The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Commander Alfred Vernon Jannotta (NSN: 0-21296), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commander, LCI Flotilla TWENTY-FOUR, in action against enemy Japanese forces at Mangarin Bay, Mindoro, Philippine Islands, on 30 December 1944. When the U.S.S. ORESTES, loaded with huge quantities of high octane gasoline and high explosives was struck by a bomb-laden hostile plane which inflicted severe materiel and personnel damage and started a fire amidships, Commander Jannotta observed that the crew began to abandon ship almost at once due to the probability of explosion, Getting his Flagship underway, he went close aboard to rescue survivors. After all personnel were clear, he brought his ship alongside the flaming vessel and, despite continued enemy air activity, led fire fighting parties on board to bring the fire under control and later extinguish it. By his courageous initiative in going aboard the burning vessel after she had been abandoned by her crew and with no knowledge of the location of the explosives and aviation gasoline or their proximity to the fire, he contributed materially to the saving of the vessel and the combat materials so vital to the success of future missions of the Task Group. His personal valor, gallant leadership and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.