The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant [then Lieutenant, Junior Grade] Robert Aaron Horn, United States Naval Reserve, extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Scout Dive Bomber in Bombing Squadron EIGHT (VB-8), attached to the U.S.S. BUNKER HILL (CV-17), during the attack on the Japanese Battle Fleet in the First Battle of the Philippine Sea on 20 June 1944. Flying at extreme combat radius in a strike against major hostile Fleet units, Lieutenant Horn flew in over the assigned area in bold defiance of fierce enemy aerial opposition and a terrific barrage of anti-aircraft fire from guns of all calibers including battleship main batteries and, pressing home his own attack at perilously low altitude, scored a direct bomb hit on a hostile aircraft carrier despite damage sustained by his plane in the furious action. By his airmanship and cool courage in the face of tremendous odds, Lieutenant Horn contributed to the probable destruction of the carrier and to the success of this decisive engagement. His valiant devotion to duty throughout reflects the highest credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service.