The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Navy Cross to Lieutenant, Junior Grade Phil Hinkle Bucklew (NSN: 0-244104), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Officer in Charge of an LCT Scout Boat during the amphibious assault on the Normandy Coast of France on 6 June 1944. Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Bucklew embarked in one of the first craft to approach the strongly defended Normandy coast and succeeded in the highly important mission of locating the beaches to be assaulted. Despite heavy surf and harassing enemy fire he led the first wave of DD tanks to the beach and there took up his station near the beach to act as a guide. While the tanks were landing, he fired rockets over them to target objectives on the beach. After all rockets were expended he moved in closer to the beach and fired his twin fifty-caliber machine guns at suspected enemy machine gun nests in houses along the beach. In addition to his assigned duties, without regard for his own personal safety and under heavy enemy fire he rescued wounded personnel from the water near their burning landing craft and carried them to safety. He continued throughout the morning and afternoon of D-Day working near the beach, regulating the flow of traffic and rescuing wounded personnel. The outstanding devotion to duty and courage under fire displayed by Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Bucklew were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Ensign Phil Hinkle Bucklew (NSN: 0-244104), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as a Scout Boat Officer in action against enemy forces during the amphibious assault on the Island of Sicily on 10 July 1943. Despite glaring searchlights and enemy gunfire, Ensign Bucklew accurately located the designated beach and properly directed the assault boat wave. Disregarding fire from shore batteries and machine guns which repeatedly struck his boat, he coolly and skillfully guided subsequent waves to the proper beach. Prior to the assault, with great resourcefulness and energy, he trained the scout boat crews for the entire attack force. The high state of training achieved contributed greatly to the successful performance of the scout boats during the landings. The outstanding courage, skill and devotion to duty displayed by Ensign Bucklew were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.