The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Aviation Chief Radioman Maurice A. Ball, United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a radio gunner in a scouting plane in action against the Japanese in the Pacific during World War II. While supporting an assault landing, by his accurate strafing attacks, he succeeded in silencing a hidden enemy artillery piece that was firing with great accuracy from a position flanking the landing beach. Later during the same flight, he detected and strafed three additional artillery pieces, thereby assisting in their destruction. While assisting in a bombardment attack, the scouting plane in which he was flying was attacked by two enemy fighter planes. During the ensuing action, he exhibited outstanding coolness and courage in manning his machine gun while keeping his pilot informed as to the position of the enemy planes until escape was effected. His conduct was at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.