The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Aviation Chief Machinist’s Mate Don Dexter Lurvey, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Gunner of a Navy Patrol Plane in Patrol Squadron ONE HUNDRED ONE (VP-101), Patrol Wing TEN (PatWing-10), which participated in a bombing attack on Japanese vessels in Jolo Harbor, Philippine Islands, on 27 December 1941. During the attack Aviation Chief Machinist’s Mate Lurvey, although safely in the water himself, swam to the burning plane, obtained a life ring for Ensign Cough, without which the latter would have perished. Throughout the subsequent night Aviation Chief Machinist’s Mate Lurvey and the survivors of the plane were in the water. Aviation Chief Machinist’s Mate Lurvey kept the First Pilot headed toward the shore, which the First Pilot could not have done without Aviation Chief Machinist’s Mate Lurvey’s assistance.