The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Commodore 2d Class John Malet Armstrong, Royal Australian Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in action as Commanding Officer of HMAS AUSTRALIA during the capture of Lingayen Gulf and the landing on Luzon, Philippine Islands from 6 January to 9 January 1945. Although the AUSTRALIA was heavily hit, suffering heavy casualties and the disablement of a large portion of her anti aircraft guns and radar system, Captain Armstrong maintained his assigned station and carried out her bombardment missions.