The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander Louis Philip Pressler, Jr., United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Commander of a Navy Patrol Plane and Commanding Officer of Patrol-Bombing Squadron ONE HUNDRED TWO (VPB-102), in action against enemy Japanese forces on Marcus Island on 9 May 1945. In the face of fully alerted hostile defenses and intense anti-aircraft fire, Lieutenant Commander Pressler carried out a determined bombing attack against an enemy airfield and, pressing his attack to point-blank range, destroyed three planes on the ground preparing to take off in addition to dropping a number of bombs along the runways. His airmanship, gallant fighting spirit and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.