The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant, Junior Grade John B. Russell, United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Torpedo Plane in Torpedo Squadron THIRTY-ONE (VT-31), attached to the U.S.S. CABOT (CVL-28), in action against major units of the Japanese fleet west of the Mariana Islands, at a distance closely approaching the limits of the airplane’s range in the face of intense anti-aircraft fire and determined fighter opposition, during the first Battle of the Philippine Sea, on 20 June 1944. Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Russell personally scored two direct hits on an enemy carrier and returned to his own Task Group over three hundred miles through darkness and landed safely aboard his own carrier. Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Russell’s expert airmanship, daring combat tactics and unswerving devotion to duty were important factors in the inflicting of heavy damage on the enemy during this historic engagement, and his gallant fortitude throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval service.