The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant, Junior Grade LeRoy Lester Laz (NSN: 0-278265), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Dive Bomber in Bombing Squadron FOURTEEN (VB-14, attached to the U.S.S. WASP (CV-18), during operations against enemy Japanese forces in the Battle for Leyte Gulf, on 25 October 1944. Despite the threat of hostile fighters, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Laz pressed home a relentless attack against major units of the Japanese Fleet and, diving his plane to low altitude through an intense barrage of anti-aircraft fire, scored a direct hit on one of the enemy’s largest battleships. His airmanship and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.