The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander [then Lieutenant] Emmett Thomas King (NSN: 0-109833), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving Assistant Damage Control Officer on board the Escort Carrier U.S.S. SANTEE (CVE-29), during operations against enemy Japanese forces in the Battle for Leyte Gulf, on 25 October 1944. When his ship sustained severe damage after repeated enemy aerial attacks, Lieutenant Commander King unhesitatingly manned a fire hose from an adjacent bulkhead to fight the raging fires and, despite danger from burning depth charges, directed a steady stream of water on the blaze to prevent further damage from internal explosions. His courage, initiative and devotion to duty throughout reflect the highest credit upon Lieutenant Commander King and the United States Naval Service.