The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant, Junior Grade [then Ensign] James Harold Livingston, 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 SEVEN (VB-7), attached to the U.S.S. HANCOCK (CV-19), during action against enemy Japanese forces in the Sulu Sea in the Philippine Islands, during the Battle of Leyte Gulf on 26 October 1944. Participating in a search for units of the Japanese Fleet, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Livingston plunged through a deadly barrage of bursting hostile anti-aircraft fire to score a devastating hit on a Japanese cruiser. By his indomitable courage, relentless airmanship and aggressiveness, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Livingston contributed materially to the infliction of extensive damage on the enemy and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.