The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant, Junior Grade “J” “C” Hogue, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane in Fighting Squadron FIFTEEN (VF-15), attached to the U.S.S. ESSEX (CV-9), during operations against enemy Japanese forces in the Battle for Leyte Gulf, on 25 October 1944. Sighting major units of the Japanese Fleet during a night search mission, Lieutenant Hogue maintained close visual contact with the enemy until he had directed our forces to within gun range for the attack and subsequent sinking of a cruiser and, despite hostile anti-aircraft fire during a later search the same day, executed low altitude runs over the Japanese Fleet to determine the strength of the enemy before he was ordered to withdraw from the area. By his skill as an airman and devotion to duty, Lieutenant Hogue upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.