The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander [then Lieutenant] Wilbur Floyd Hiser, United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Torpedo Plane in Composite Squadron EIGHTY-ONE (VC-81), attached to the U.S.S. NATOMA BAY (CVE-62), in action against the enemy Japanese Flee during the Battle off Samar, on 25 October 1944. When our carrier forces were under attack by major units of the Japanese Navy, Lieutenant Commander Hiser carried out an unsupported torpedo attack in company with two other planes against a group of enemy heavy cruisers. Despite a withering barrage of anti-aircraft fire from the hostile warships, he assisted in the infliction of serious damage on the leading cruiser at a time when enemy ships were shelling our escort carriers. His gallant fighting spirit and intrepid actions upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.