The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant James Charles West (NSN: 0-106326), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Torpedo Plane of Torpedo Squadron NINETEEN (VT-19) attached to the U.S.S. LEXINGTON (CV-16), while assigned to strike major Japanese Fleet Units on 25 October 1944, during the Battle of Leyte Gulf, in the Philippine Islands. Lieutenant West skillfully and courageously piloted his aircraft in a torpedo attack on major units of a Task Force of the enemy fleet including aircraft carriers, battleships, cruisers and destroyers. During the action he made a determined attack on an enemy aircraft carrier in the face of intense anti-aircraft fire, scoring a direct hit which contributed materially to the sinking of the vessel. His skill and courage were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.