The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant, Junior Grade [then Ensign] Willard Merle Fletcher, United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Torpedo Plane in Torpedo Squadron EIGHTEEN (VT-18), attached to the U.S.S. INTREPID (CV-11), in action against enemy Japanese forces during the Battle for Leyte Gulf, on 24 October 1944. Boldly flying through intense anti-aircraft fire to press home an attack against a Battleship Task Force, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Fletcher succeeded in scoring a direct hit on a hostile vessel before landing his badly damaged craft on the water. By his outstanding airmanship, courage and devotion to duty, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Fletcher contributed to the infliction of costly damage upon the enemy and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.