The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Commander Charles L. Westhofen, United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while piloting a bomber in action against a hostile submarine in the Atlantic during World War II. Commander Westhofen flew dangerously low over the target and enabled his gunners to achieve maximum striking power. Despite damage to his craft, he maintained a course of action which resulted in destruction of the submarine.