The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant George B. Searle (NSN: 0-112384), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Dive Bomber of Bombing Squadron EIGHTEEN (VB-18), attached to the U.S.S. INTREPID (CV-11), during the Second Battle of the Philippine Sea, on 24 October 1944. While on a search mission in enemy waters in the vicinity of the Philippine Islands, Lieutenant Searle sighted and reported the presence of an enemy light cruiser and destroyer. Unhesitantly launching an immediate single-handed attack on the cruiser, he scored a direct hit in the face of intense fire from the warship and land-based batteries of two enemy strongholds. The damage inflicted on the cruiser slowed her down considerably and she was observed to lose leadway. His alertness in carrying out his mission and his courage and skill in making the attack were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.