The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant [then Lieutenant, Junior Grade] Jack Bion Linn, United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Dive Bomber of Bombing Squadron EIGHTEEN (VB-18), attached to the U.S.S. INTREPID (CV-11), in action against enemy Japanese forces during the Second Battle of the Philippine Sea on 24 October 1944. Braving intense anti-aircraft fire to press home a vigorous dive-bombing attack, Lieutenant Linn succeeded in scoring a direct hit on a rapidly maneuvering enemy battleship. By his outstanding airmanship and courageous fighting spirit, Lieutenant Linn aided in removing a serious threat to our ground forces in the Philippine islands, and his unwavering devotion to duty was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.