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 Commander [then Lieutenant Commander] Gordon Percival Chase, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Flight Leader and Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Dive Bomber of Bombing Squadron SIX (VB-6), attached to the U.S.S. HANCOCK (CV-19), in action against enemy Japanese forces in Kure Harbor, Japan, on 28 July 1945. Courageously leading a dive-bombing attack against major units of the enemy Fleet including aircraft carriers, battleships, cruisers and destroyers, Commander Chase selected a hostile battleship as his target and, fighting his plane gallantly in the face of intense anti-aircraft fire from enemy warships and shore batteries, scored a direct bob hit which contributed materially to the infliction of extensive damage on the hostile vessel, which later settled to the bottom of the Harbor. Commander Chase’s skilled airmanship, determination and devotion to duty 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 Commander [then Lieutenant Commander] Gordon Percival Chase, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Flight Leader and Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Dive Bomber in Bombing Squadron SIX (VB-6), attached to the U.S.S. HANCOCK (CV-19), in action against enemy Japanese forces in Kure Harbor, Japan, on 24 July 1945. Courageously leading a dive-bombing attack against major units of the enemy Japanese Fleet including aircraft carriers, battleships, cruisers and destroyers, Commander Chase selected a hostile battleship as his target and, fighting his plane gallantly in the face of intense anti-aircraft fire from enemy warships and shore batteries, scored a direct bomb hit which contributed materially to the infliction of extensive damage on the hostile vessel, which later settled to the bottom of the Harbor. Commander Chase’s skilled airmanship, determination and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.