The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Commander Richard Labbitt Fowler (NSN: 0-77084/1310), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Combat Plane and Commanding Officer of Composite Squadron FIVE (VC-5), attached to the U.S.S. KITKUN BAY (CVE-71), during action against enemy Japanese Fleet units in the Battle off Samar, on 25 October 1944. Organizing and leading an airborne attack against a major enemy surface force which was in a position to annihilate a friendly escort carrier Task Unit, Commander Fowler contributed materially to the sinking of a cruiser and to the turning back of the enemy, saving our forces from almost certain destruction. After refueling, he again organized and led a second attack on the fleeing enemy, personally scoring three heavy bomb hits on an enemy battleship as his flight inflicted further heavy damage on the hostile force. By his outstanding leadership and devotion to duty, Commander Fowler upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.