The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant, Junior Grade Orbie Carnell Guthrie, United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Plane Torpedo Bombing Plane and Division Leader in Torpedo Bombing Squadron TEN (VTB-10), attached to the U.S.S. INTREPID (CV-11), in action against major units of the Japanese Fleet in the East China Sea on 7 April 1945. Leading his Division in a coordinated strike on an enemy Task Force, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Guthrie pressed home his attack to within 1,000 yards of an enemy destroyer leader and, in the face of intense and accurate anti-aircraft fire, succeeded in scoring a direct torpedo hit on the warship which was observed to sink immediately following the attack. His skilled airmanship, courage and devotion to duty upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.