The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander [then Lieutenant] Robert Ira Myers (NSN: 0-105974), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Combat Plane in Composite Squadron NINETY-THREE (VC-93), attached to the U.S.S. PETROF BAY (CVE-80), in action against enemy Japanese forces in the vicinity of Okinawa Gunto, on 6 April 1945. During a heavy air attack on our shipping, Lieutenant Commander Myers displayed outstanding courage and airmanship in shooting down three enemy planes. With determined aggressiveness, he pursued each of two planes in dives directly into intense anti-aircraft fire, coolly shooting well-aimed bursts, until they exploded in flames, thereby undoubtedly saving two of our ships from great damage. Closing on another before it could reach our ships, he executed an overhead run from a dangerously low level and succeeded in splashing it. His courage, skill and gallant devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.