The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant, Junior Grade [then Ensign] Joseph Dennis McGraw, United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Combat Plane in Composite Squadron TEN (VC-10), attached to the U.S.S. GAMBIER BAY (CVE-73), in action on 24 October 1944, in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Battle off Samar, Philippine Islands, on 24 and 25 October 1944. Flying with a small number of friendly fighters, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, McGraw intercepted a flight of approximately twenty-one enemy twin-engined bombers and eight fighters about to attack our troop-laden transports and, pressing home aggressive attacks, succeeded in shooting down two bombers and damaging a third. Participating in an early morning attack on a Japanese force shelling our carriers at the time of take-off on 25 October, he made eleven low-level strafing runs on a battleship and three heavy cruisers in the face of intense anti-aircraft fire. Launched from another carrier following this action, he strafed a battleship, cruiser and destroyer and, serving as Section Leader of a local Combat Air Patrol later in the afternoon, led his division in intercepting and dispersing a numerically superior force, personally shooting down several hostile aircraft. His outstanding airmanship, courage and devotion to duty were contributing factors in the infliction of extensive damage upon the enemy and reflect the highest credit upon Lieutenant, Junior Grade, McGraw and the United States Naval Service.