The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Seaman First Class Roy R. Ghilardi, United States Navy, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial combat as radioman/gunner of a Torpedo Plane in action against enemy forces in the Coral Sea on 7 May 1942. While subjected to intense anti-aircraft fire and in the face of fierce fighter oppositions, Seaman First Class Ghilardi participated in an attack on an enemy Japanese aircraft carrier. His plane scored a torpedo hit on that vessel which contributed to her destruction and was an important factor in the success attained by our forces in the Battle of the Coral Sea.