The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Theodore William Runk, United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession while leading damage control and fire fighting efforts on board the Destroyer U.S.S. LAFFEY (DD-459), after she was attacked by enemy aircraft on 16 April 1945, while serving as a radar picket ship north of Okinawa. In the midst of raging fires, and endangered by fires in a magazine in the adjacent compartment, Lieutenant Runk twice entered the partially flooded and smoke-filled steering engine room in courageous attempts to regain steering control after a bomb hit and led them in extinguishing flames that were threatening the after magazine, and while fighting fires, found a bomb that had not detonated which he threw overboard. His greatest contribution was the instilling of confidence in all personnel by his courageous actions. His fearless leadership, inspiring conduct and devotion to duty were at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.