The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant, Junior Grade Kenneth Alfred Holmes, United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Dive Bomber in Air Group EIGHT (AG-8), attached to the U.S.S. BUNKER HILL (CV-17), during an attack against the Japanese Fleet in the Mariana Islands during the First Battle of the Philippine Sea, on 20 June 1944. Flying at extreme combat radius in a strike against major hostile Fleet units, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Holmes flew over the assigned area in bold defiance of fierce enemy aerial opposition and a terrific barrage of anti-aircraft fire sent up from guns of all calibers including main batteries and, pressing home his own vigorous attack at low altitude, scored a direct bomb hit on hostile cruiser of the CHOKI class. By his airmanship and cool courage in the face of tremendous odds, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Holmes contributed materially to the infliction of extensive and costly damage on the Japanese Fleet in this decisive engagement and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.