The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant, Junior Grade Theron Jack Taylor, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Combat Plane attached to the U.S.S. HORNET (CV-12), while participating in aerial combat against major enemy Japanese Fleet forces in the Mariana Islands, during the First Battle of the Philippine Sea, on 20 June 1944. In the face of heavy, accurate anti-aircraft fire, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Taylor led his section in a determined dive bombing attack scoring a direct hit on a large carrier, thereby assisting materially in its destruction. By his airmanship and cool courage in the face of tremendous odds, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Taylor contributed materially to the infliction of extensive and costly damage on the Japanese Fleet in this decisive engagement and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.