The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant, Junior Grade Raymond Fritzinger Klingerman (ASN: 0-325675), United States Naval Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane in Fighting Squadron EIGHTY-TWO (VF-82), attached to the U.S.S. BENNINGTON (CV-20), in action against enemy Japanese forces in the vicinity of Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, on 12 April 1945. Despite an attempted ramming and numerous other tactics to evade his attacks during a twenty hour period of intense night fighter activity, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Klingerman shot down four enemy twin-engined aircraft, two of which were destroyed in rapid succession on a single flight. His courage and gallant devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.