The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander LeRoy William James Keith (NSN: 0-81595), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane and Commanding Officer of Fighting Squadron EIGHTY (VF-80), attached to the U.S.S. HANCOCK (CV-19), in action against enemy Japanese forces in the vicinity of Tokyo, Japan, on 16 February 1945. Leading his squadron on the initial fighter sweep against enemy air installations and aircraft in this area, Lieutenant Commander Keith carried out his attacks with skill, personally shooting down five hostile planes and probably destroying two others and subsequently through intense enemy fire brought his entire flight safely back to its carrier. By his airmanship, courage and devotion to duty throughout this hazardous operation, Lieutenant Commander Keith upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.