The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant, Junior Grade John Daniel Kurtz Drake, United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Dive Bomber of Bombing Squadron FOURTEEN (VB-14), attached to the U.S.S. WASP (CV-18), in action against enemy Japanese forces during the Battle for Leyte Gulf, on 26 October 1944. Braving intense enemy anti-aircraft fire from powerful units of the Japanese Fleet, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Drake pressed home a determined, close-range attack to score a direct hit on an enemy cruiser and contribute materially to the subsequent sinking of the hostile vessel. His expert airmanship, courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.