Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Lieutenant

    Batallion:

    Patrol Bombing Squadron 117 (VPB-117)

    Action Date:

    November 12, 1944

    Commander 3d Fleet: Serial 346 (May 1, 1945)

    The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Herbert Glen Box (NSN: 0-146490), United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as Patrol Plane Commander of a Navy Liberator Search Plane while flying an assigned mission over enemy held territory on 12 November 1944. With one engine of his aircraft disabled by enemy fire, he displayed consummate skill and determination in flying his plane 800 miles before failure of two other engines and exhaustion of fuel forced him to make an emergency open sea landing, in darkness, thirty miles from his base. With only one engine operative he landed his patrol bomber so skillfully that ten men of a twelve man crew were able to escape from the aircraft before it sank. His great skill in holding the aircraft on course and in bringing it down on the open sea in the face of great difficulties constitute an extraordinary achievement beyond that normally expected and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

  • Navy and Marine Corps Medal

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Lieutenant

    Action Date:

    November 12, 1944

    Commander 3d Fleet: Serial 346 (May 1, 1945)

    The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Lieutenant Herbert Glen Box (NSN: 0-146490), United States Navy, for heroism in the rescue of seven members of his Navy Liberator Search Plane crew, following an emergency open sea landing, in darkness, on 12 November 1944. Although suffering a broken leg and other injuries he rallied the men around him, kept up their spirits during the long night in the water while they were awaiting rescue, and heroically saved Ensign Kenneth Leland Henry from drowning by keeping him afloat throughout the night at the risk of losing his own life. His skill, judgment, and leadership plus his personal courage preserved the lives of the men serving under his command and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.