The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander John Russell Dale, United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Combat Plane and Leader of a flight of torpedo planes of Composite Squadron TWENTY (VC-20), attached to the U.S.S. KADASHAN BAY (CVE-76), in action against enemy Japanese forces near Samar in the Philippine Islands during the Battle of Leyte Gulf on 25 October 1944. When his squadron was ordered to repel a strong enemy surface force which was attacking an escort carrier group in the vicinity of the Philippine Islands, he so skillfully directed an unsupported torpedo attack against the enemy battleships that, despite intense anti-aircraft fire, three torpedo hits were scored on the enemy ships, causing them to retire. His conduct throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.