The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Rear Admiral George Lester Weyler, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Battle Line Commander, Allied Support Force, in action against enemy Japanese forces in the early morning hours of 25 October 1944. When a formidable column of Japanese battleships, cruisers and destroyers entered the Surigao Strait and advanced under cover of darkness toward our waiting forces, Rear Admiral Weyler, standing by in readiness with his battleship division placed with others in the strategic formation across the northern end of the Strait, hurled the full power of his heavy guns at the surprised enemy and, directed the ships with such effectiveness that it resulted in the sinking of two Japanese battleships and three destroyers before effective return fire could be brought to bear upon our ships. Rear Admiral Weyler, by his superb leadership, outstanding professional skill and indomitable determination in the face of a powerful enemy force, contributed materially to the destruction of capital ships of the Japanese Fleet in their own waters. His undaunted courage and resolute conduct throughout upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.