Warren Kruck

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Warren Kruck, Ensign, U.S. Navy (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Combat Plane in Composite Squadron TWENTY (VC-20), embarked from the U.S.S. KADASHAN BAY (CVE-76), in action against enemy Japanese forces near Samar in the Philippine Islands during the Battle of Leyte Gulf on 25 October 1944. When his escort carrier group was threatened with annihilation during the Battle of Samar, Ensign Kruck skillfully and resolutely made an attack on an enemy battleship, part of a greatly superior enemy force. He displayed utter disregard for his own safety and was without assistance from other aircraft. Although the concentrated fire of the enemy force seriously damaged his plane, he persisted in his run and scored a hit, damaging the ship severely and causing it to turn away from the escort carrier group. His courage, aggressiveness, and cool disregard for danger were at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the Navy of the United States.

Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 339 (June 1945)