The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant [then Lieutenant, Junior Grade] Franklin Edward Foltz, United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane in Fighting Squadron EIGHTEEN (VF-18), attached to the U.S.S. INTREPID (CV-11), in action against major units of the Japanese Fleet during the Battle for Letye Gulf, on 24 and 26 October 1944. Diving through anti-aircraft fire of great intensity to carry out his attacks, Lieutenant Foltz strafed an enemy cruiser from stem to stern, neutralizing the ships anti-aircraft fire and reducing the opposition to our torpedo bombers. Attacking the enemy Fleet again, he dived from a high level through intense anti-aircraft fire of all calibers and scored a direct 500-pound bomb hit aft of the Number Three Turret on the battleship YAMATO, causing serious damage. His outstanding courage and determination in the face of great danger were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.