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 Joseph Taylor (NSN: 0-61280), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Torpedo Plane and Commanding Officer of Torpedo Squadron FIVE (VT-5), attached to the U.S.S. YORKTOWN (CV-5), in action against enemy Japanese forces at Tulagi Harbor and in the Coral Sea during the period 4 to 8 May 1942. Due to Lieutenant Commander Taylor’s distinguished and capable leadership, the high combat efficiency attained by the units under his command enabled them to deliver four aggressive and exceptionally successful attacks, the first at Tulagi Harbor on 4 May, in which at least eight enemy Japanese vessels were destroyed or severely damaged, and later, on 7 May, when an enemy carrier was sunk, both engagements maintained in the face of heavy anti-aircraft fire. Opposed also by fierce fighter attacks on 8 May, and firing from extremely short range, Lieutenant Commander Taylor’s squadron succeeded in sinking or severely damaging another enemy Japanese carrier. These actions, carried out in the face of constant and grave danger, contributed materially to the success of our forces in the Battle of the Coral Sea.

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Second Gold Star in lieu of a Third Award of the Navy Cross to Commander Joseph Taylor (NSN: 0-61280), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Executive Officer of the Aircraft Carrier U.S.S. FRANKLIN (CV-13), which was striking the Japanese home islands in the vicinity of Kobe, Japan, on 19 March 1945. When his ship was hit and severely damaged by enemy air attacks and rocked by violent explosions of her own ordnance, Commander Taylor supervised and directed the efforts to save the ship, controlling raging fires, flooding magazines and personally leading and participating in the jettisoning of heated live ammunition and bombs, some of which were extricated from amidst the wreckage of burning aircraft and were so heated and damaged it was impossible to defuse them. With utmost disregard for his personal safety, he visited all sections of the badly damaged ship, leading, inspiring the crew in the gallant and successful effort to salvage the drifting and erupting carrier. In the face of further enemy attacks and explosions of the carrier’s own arms he took charge of the towing operations which resulted in getting his ship underway. His cool, calm determination and outstanding leadership were an inspiration to all officers and men, and contributed greatly to the ultimate saving of the ship. The conduct of Commander Taylor throughout this action reflects great credit upon himself, and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.