The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Commander [then Lieutenant] Carl W. Rooney, United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while participating in a vigorous strafing un against six enemy transports unloading troops at Kokumbona, during World War II. Commander Rooney inflicted serious damage upon the vessels and many casualties among the personnel. Later he led an attack against 16 enemy bombers, blasted one from the sky and damaged two others.