The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross (Posthumously) to Lieutenant, Junior Grade Robert E. Sterling (NSN: 0-176622), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while piloting a dive-bomber against Japanese forces off the Mariana Islands on 20 June 1944. Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Sterling flew at the extreme range of his craft to take part in a strike against enemy shipping. Although his bomber was damaged by intense anti-aircraft fire, he scored a direct hit on a 15,000-ton carrier and contributed to its probable destruction.