The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander [then Lieutenant] Frederick Doll, Jr., United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Torpedo Plane of Torpedo Squadron NINETEEN (VT-19) attached to the U.S.S. LEXINGTON (CV-16), in action against the enemy Japanese forces during the Battle for Leyte Gulf, on 25 October 1944. Leading his flight of aircraft on a strike mission against major units of the Japanese Fleet, including aircraft carriers, battleships, cruisers and destroyers, Lieutenant Commander Doll gallantly plunged through the enemy’s heavy barrage of extremely intense anti-aircraft fire and scored a direct torpedo hit upon a hostile aircraft carrier, contributing materially to her subsequent sinking. Although his own craft and six others of his group were damaged by enemy fire, and one of his pilots was seriously wounded, he succeeded in returning his flight to the carrier. By his brilliant airmanship, indomitable courage and daring tactics, Lieutenant Commander Doll was instrumental in achieving a decisive victory over the Japanese forces during this battle. His dauntless fighting spirit and unswerving devotion to duty maintained under extremely hazardous combat conditions throughout numerous vital missions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service.