The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant [then Lieutenant, Junior Grade] Richard Baruch Duckett, 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 EIGHTEEN (VB-18), attached to the U.S.S. INTREPID (CV-11), in action against enemy Japanese forces during the Second Battle of the Philippine Sea, on 26 October 1944. Flying through intense anti-aircraft fire to press home a vigorous dive-bombing attack, Lieutenant Duckett succeeded in scoring a direct hit on an enemy battleship. By his outstanding airmanship and courageous fighting spirit, he aided in removing a serious threat to our ground forces in the Philippines and his unwavering devotion to duty was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.