The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander [then Lieutenant] Clement Melvin Craig (NSN: 0-86053), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane and Division Leader in Fighting Squadron TWENTY-TWO (VF-22, attached to the U.S.S. COWPENS (CVL-25), in action against enemy Japanese forces off Panay Island, during the Battle for Leyte Gulf in the Philippine Islands, on 26 October 1944. Leading a four-plane division against heavy units of the Japanese Fleet, Lieutenant Commander Craig fought his way through the intense enemy defensive fire to score two direct rocket hits on a Japanese battleship. Despite the viciousness of the enemy battleship fire, he pressed home his attack on a nearby Japanese cruiser, scoring four damaging hits. His courage, airmanship and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

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 [then Lieutenant] Clement Melvin Craig (NSN: 0-86053), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane and Acting Commanding Officer of Fighting Squadron TWENTY-TWO (VF-22, attached to the U.S.S. COWPENS (CVL-25), during action against enemy Japanese forces in the vicinity of Formosa, on 21 January 1945. In the face of overwhelming odds, Lieutenant Commander Craig led his division against a numerically superior flight of enemy planes and during this single flight succeeded in personally shooting down five hostile aircraft while his splendidly directed division accounted for nine and possibly twelve more. By dispersing and destroying the enemy flight, he aided materially in the success of our Task Forces in the area. His airmanship, courage and devotion to duty reflect the highest credit upon Lieutenant Commander Craig and the United States Naval Service.