The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander Lawrence F. Steffenhagen (NSN: 0-81541), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Torpedo Plane ad Leader of Torpedo Squadron EIGHTY-SIX (VT-86), attached to the U.S.S. WASP (CV-18), in an attack on the enemy Fleet in the harbor of the Naval Base at Kure, Japan, on 19 March 1945. He skillfully and courageously led his squadron in the attack against the enemy Fleet in which not less than eight hits were scored on major units of the Fleet, including a battleship, an aircraft carrier and a cruiser. During the action, he carefully and deliberately piloted his aircraft in the face of intense and accurate anti-aircraft fire, in an attack on an enemy aircraft carrier, dropping four 500-pound bombs, in train, scoring two direct hits. His skill and courage were at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander Lawrence F. Steffenhagen (NSN: 0-81541), 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 TWO (VT-2), attached to the U.S.S. LEXINGTON (CV-2), CV-2), in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Air Battle of the Coral Sea. In spite of heavy anti-aircraft fire and strong fighter opposition, Lieutenant Steffenhagen pressed home an attack against an enemy aircraft carrier to within the dangerously short range of a few hundred yards of the target. He was able to score a hit on the enemy ship by utter disregard for his own safety and determination in carrying out his mission. Contributing to the destruction of the enemy carrier and to the success of our forces in the Coral Sea Battle, he conducted himself on this occasion in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.