The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Commander Henry Howard Caldwell (NSN: 0-61115), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Pilot of a Navy Torpedo Plane and as Commanding Officer of an Air Group embarked in the Aircraft Carrier U.S.S. SARATOGA (CV-3), during attacks against Japanese warships in the strongly fortified harbor of Rabaul, New Britain, on 5 November 1943. Commander Caldwell skillfully planned and courageously led his Air Group in the attack, as the result of which a crippling blow was inflicted upon the enemy. He, as Pilot of a Torpedo Plane, with the assistance of a fighter pilot, destroyed one and possibly three additional enemy aircraft. Despite the fact that his plane was badly damaged, containing one hundred sixteen bullet holes, and with one member of his crew killed and another wounded, he returned to his carrier and landed. His determined conduct was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.