The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Ensign Alexander Albert Christie (NSN: 0-202618), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession while serving as Ship’s Carpenter on board the Light Cruiser U.S.S. PRINCETON (CVL-23), when that vessel was attacked and sunk by enemy Japanese aircraft off the east coast of Luzon, Philippine Islands, during the Second Battle of the Philippine Sea, on 24 October 1944. Immediately after a hostile dive bomber penetrated our screen and scored a direct hit on his carrier, starting raging fires and a series of violent explosions and killing or wounding many members of the crew, Ensign Christie, despite the resulting confusion and the danger of further imminent detonations, gallantly proceeded below decks through smoke-filled passageways and promptly initiated and directed fire fighting and damage control measures, thereafter attempting the rescue of trapped and burned personnel following a blast in another part of the ship. Voluntarily accompanying the Air Officer to the hangar area which was being rocked by explosions, he was among the first to arrive at the scene and, boldly entering the after section where fires were rapidly spreading to a torpedo workshop and bomb stowage, labored tirelessly and with superb courage to extinguish the blaze. His outstanding fortitude, great personal valor and self-sacrificing devotion to the completion of an extremely perilous task reflect the highest credit upon Ensign Christie and the United States Naval Service.