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 Commander Malcolm Taber Wordell (NSN: 0-75121), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Combat Plane and Commanding Officer of Air Group FORTY-FOUR (AG-44), deployed over Samar in action against enemy Japanese forces during the Battle of Leyte Gulf, on 25 October 1944, in the Philippine Sea. After skillfully leading a division of his squadron in repeated strafing attacks on an enemy cruiser in the face of heavy anti-aircraft fire the cruiser was set afire and seen to burn. He then assumed duty as target coordinator and remained in the immediate vicinity of the enemy forces for five hours during a critical period of attacks on the enemy fleet. His keen observation and quick estimate of the situation aided materially to the effective coordination of our air and sea attacks. On the previous day, while our forces were under heavy enemy air attacks, he destroyed one enemy fighter plane. His leadership, superb airmanship, and disregard for his own safety during these actions 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 Malcolm Taber Wordell (NSN: 0-75121), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane and Section Leader in Fighting Squadron FORTY-ONE (VF-41), attached to the U.S.S. RANGER (CV-4), during the assault on and occupation of French Morocco, from 8 November 1942 to 11 November 1942. On 8 November 1942, Lieutenant Commander Wordell led a flight of sixteen planes in the face of anti-aircraft in determined and repeated strafing attacks on a hostile naval force consisting of cruisers and destroyers which was observed speeding from Casablanca toward the transports at Fedalia. As the result of these attacks and the fire of our surface ships, three of the ships were set afire and all others were so severely hit that the entire group was diverted from its apparent attack on the transports. This attack, in which Lieutenant Commander Wordell was wounded and his plane damaged to the extent that a forced landing was necessary, contributed greatly in preventing our transports from coming under the fire of these hostile ships. The initiative, courage, and leadership displayed by Lieutenant Commander Wordell in the action described reflect great credit upon the United States Naval Service.