The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Commander Howard Malcolm Avery (NSN: 0-76159), United States Navy, for outstanding heroism, courageous action, inspiring leadership, and performance beyond the call of duty in connection with the disastrous explosions on boar the U.S.S. BENNINGTON (CVA-20), while serving as Executive Officer. On 26 May 1954, the BENNINGTON was conducting air operations seventy-five miles south of Newport, Rhode Island, when the ship experienced a series of violent explosions. These explosions spread flame, flash fires, intense heat, and dense smoke throughout the forward section of the ship and caused severe damage to the ship and resulted in the death or injury to 220 officers and men. With full appreciation of the dangers involved and realizing the serious proportions of the tragedy, Commander Avery, having narrowly escaped death in his badly damaged cabin, personally assumed overall direction of the rescue and damage control operations. With complete disregard for his own personal safety and despite the extreme heat, dense smoke, and continual danger of additional explosions, Commander Avery repeatedly entered the damaged areas to provide on-the-scene direction. His untiring efforts throughout the critical period, courageous actions, and skillful directions of rescue and damage control operations not only saved the ship from far greater damage but were an inspiration that supplied impetus to the heroic actions of many other personnel. This was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Sponsored by:
Awards Received
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Navy Cross
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Legion of Merit
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Navy Cross
Service:
United States NavyRank:
Lieutenant CommanderBatallion:
Composite Squadron 9 (VC-9)Division:
U.S.S. Card (CV-11)Action Date:
June 15, 1944
Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 345 (December 1945)The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander Howard Malcolm Avery (NSN: 0-76159), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Torpedo Plane and Officer in Tactical Command in Composite Squadron NINE (VC-9), attached to the U.S.S. CARD (CV-9), in offensive action against an enemy submarine which was destroyed in the South Atlantic on 15 June 1944. Lieutenant Commander Avery was on an antisubmarine flight in search for possible squadron survivors in the area of a known enemy submarine, when the vessel, fully surfaced, was sighted a few minutes before sunset. Lieutenant Commander Avery immediately made a contact report, circled the submarine and maintained contact despite anti-aircraft gun fire. He coolly analyzed the situation and realized that a single plane would have little chance of sinking the hostile vessel. He kept the enemy occupied until assistance arrived. He then calmly directed the attack on the enemy submarine which resulted in its destruction. During the action Lieutenant Commander Avery, with great skill and courage, personally made two strafing runs against the enemy in the face of heavy anti-aircraft fire. The aggressiveness, determination, coolness, courage, and leadership shown by Lieutenant Commander Avery in attacking and coordinating the well-planned action with the supporting aircraft are all in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Navy.
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Distinguished Flying Cross
Service:
United States NavyRank:
Lieutenant CommanderBatallion:
Composite Squadron 9 (VC-9)Division:
U.S.S. Card (CV-11)Action Date:
October 13, 1943
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Commander Howard Malcolm Avery (NSN: 0-76159), United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as Pilot of a United States Navy Torpedo Bomber plane in offensive action against an enemy submarine on 13 October 1943. While flying on an anti-submarine patrol, Lieutenant Commander Avery sighted an enemy submarine fully surfaced. Unsupported by a fighter plane, he immediately commenced an attack. At a range of five hundred yards, when a clarification of the U-boat’s position prevented him from making the anticipated bombing attack, he delivered an effective strafing attack on the submarine. Following the strafing attack, he remained in the immediate vicinity of the submarine in spite of sporadic anti-aircraft fire, and vectored a supporting plane to the scene of action. On arrival of the companion plane, he coordinated his attack very closely with the supporting attack, and by a very skillful bomb drop, scored a direct hit which probably destroyed the enemy as evidenced by the extensive oil slick and the large tank-like objects which came to the surface following the explosions. The action described above in which Lieutenant Commander Avery as a result of his initial vigilance, outstanding coordination with a companion plane, and his determined accurate attack, probably destroyed an enemy submarine was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
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Legion of Merit
Service:
United States NavyRank:
Lieutenant CommanderAction Date:
September 24 – November 10, 1943
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit with Combat “V” to Lieutenant Commander Howard Malcolm Avery (NSN: 0-76159), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Commanding Officer of Composite Squadron NINE (VC-9), during the period from 24 September 1943 to 10 November 1943. Composite Squadron NINE, operating from an escort carrier on an anti-submarine mission, participated in a large number of attacks on enemy submarines. Individual pilots, whether attacking singularly or in coordination with other craft, displayed an unfailingly high standard of aggressiveness, airmanship, and personal bravery which resulted in the destruction of a large number of the submarines attacked by planes of Composite Squadron NINE, and enabled the task group to achieve an unparalleled record of sinkings and damage to the enemy. Lieutenant Commander Avery, a superb flier and an inspiring leader, so thoroughly indoctrinated and completely trained personnel under his command that the excellent record achieved by Composite Squadron NINE was a result of his influence, wide knowledge, and tireless effective training. The leadership and foresight displayed by Lieutenant Commander Avery in training his squadron and the inspiring example which he set while engaged in combat against the enemy reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. (Lieutenant Commander Avery is authorized to wear the Combat “V”.)
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Distinguished Flying Cross
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Commander Howard Malcolm Avery (NSN: 0-76159), United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight in night observations on 17 July 1945. As pilot of a carrier-based night torpedo plane he took off at dusk, carried out a night mission, and after five and one half hours of flying under conditions requiring flight by instruments for practically the entire time he returned to the carrier and successfully landed aboard under weather conditions so adverse as to render the operation extremely hazardous and next to impossible. His skill and superb airmanship were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.