The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Commander Kenneth Floyd Musick (NSN: 0-74993/1310), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Torpedo Plane and Commanding Officer of Torpedo Squadron EIGHT (VT-8), attached to the U.S.S. BUNKER HILL (CV-17), during an attack against warships of the enemy Japanese Fleet in the First Battle of the Philippine Sea on 20 June 1944. Boldly countering fierce enemy fighter opposition and flying through intense anti-aircraft fire from guns of all calibers including Japanese battleship and cruiser main-battery fire, Commander Musick, as flight leader of his squadron, gallantly led his planes to within point-blank range of designated targets, personally scoring a direct hit on an enemy carrier and contributing to the success of the flight in obtaining three torpedo hits and four possible hits on the hostile warships. His flying ability and leadership in the face of tremendous odds were essential factors in the success of this decisive engagement and reflect the highest credit upon Commander Musick and the United States Naval Service.