The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant [then Lieutenant, Junior Grade] George Raines Carr, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane in Fighting Squadron FIFTEEN (VF-15, attached to the U.S.S. ESSEX (CV-9), in action against major units of the Japanese Fleet during the First Battle of the Philippine Sea, on 19 June 1944. During repeated attacks upon numerous enemy air groups, Lieutenant Carr pressed home vigorous counterattacks against the outnumbering enemy forces and, despite constant fighter opposition, shot down five of the enemy dive bombers and damaged many others, thereby assisting materially in the total destruction by his squadron, of sixty-seven enemy aircraft. By his superb airmanship and gallant fighting spirit, he contributed to the defenses of our forces in the area, and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.