The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant [then Lieutenant, Junior Grade] Ernest James Lawton, Jr. (NSN: 0-240589), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Torpedo Plane of Torpedo Squadron TEN (VT-10), attached to the U.S.S. ENTERPRISE (CV-6), in action against enemy Japanese forces in the vicinity of the Mariana Islands, during the First Battle of the Philippine Sea, on 20 June 1944. Participating in a daring strike against the main Japanese Fleet, Lieutenant Lawton selected an enemy aircraft carrier as his target and, fearlessly pressing home his skillful attacks in the face of fierce fighter opposition and intense anti-aircraft fire from surrounding Japanese warships, succeeded in scoring a direct hit on the enemy carrier and caused a terrific explosion, thereby assisting essentially in the probable sinking of the hostile ship. By his brilliant airmanship, aggressive fighting spirit and unwavering devotion to duty, Lieutenant Lawton contributed materially to the success of our operations in this historic engagement. His great personal valor in the face of grave peril was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.