The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Commander Charles Edward Houston (NSN: 0-77014), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism as Plane Commander of a Patrol Bomber Plane in Patrol Bomber Squadron ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-FOUR (VPB-124), in action against enemy Japanese forces in the East China Sea, on 26 June 1945. Sighting an enemy convoy of five vessels, including two destroyers and a 10,000-ton transport, while leading a two-plane section in a combat air patrol, Commander Houston singled out the transport as his main target and immediately pressed home an aggressive low-altitude attack in the face of intense anti-aircraft fire from the entire convoy. Undaunted by direct hits on his plane, which probably killed his bow gunner and radio operator, he courageously completed his run with one of his engines on fire and another completely neutralized, scoring a direct hit on the stern of the enemy ship while a second bomb exploded at the vessel’s waterline, ultimately sinking the transport. Continuing the attack against another enemy ship, he released two more bombs and, with two engines out of commission and part of the controls shot away, skillfully piloted his plane a distance of eight to ten miles from the convoy before he was forced to ditch the aircraft into the sea. By his brilliant airmanship in this emergency landing, he was directly responsible in saving the lives of eight members of his crew who were able to escape on inflated life rafts. His indomitable fighting spirit, outstanding courage and staunch devotion to duty reflect the highest credit upon Commander Houston and the United States Naval Service.