The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Commander Joseph Ignatius Manning (NSN: 0-72413), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the Destroyer U.S.S. HOBSON (DD-464), in action against enemy Japanese forces on 16 April 1945, in the vicinity of Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands. During a relentless attack by a large number of hostile aircraft, Commander Manning gallantly fought his ship to destroy one of the attacking planes and assist in the destruction of another. After his ship had sustained heavy damage, he expeditiously controlled the damage to maintain his ship as a fighting unit, repulsing repeated enemy attacks and shooting down two additional planes. Still subjected to determined Japanese raids, he proceeded to rescue from the water many survivors of a supporting ship sunk earlier in the action. His valiant leadership, courage and devotion to duty reflect the highest credit upon Commander Manning and the United States Naval Service.