The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Commander Russell Bowes Allen (NSN: 0-73573), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of this profession as Commanding Officer of the Destroyer U.S.S. McKEE (DD-575), in action against enemy aircraft on 14 April 1945, in the vicinity of Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands. While an advanced picket group, of which his ship was a unit, was under heavy air attack by about twenty enemy planes, Commander Allen’s courage and skill in combat resulted in his ship’s gunfire shooting down and destroying two enemy planes and damaging at least two others which were ultimately destroyed. The two planes which were shot down crashed near enough to his own ship to shower it with debris but without damage or casualties to the vessel. Commander Allen’s courage, inspiring leadership and professional skill were at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.