The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Major Leonard Kier Davis (MCSN: 0-5063), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession while serving as Commanding Officer and a Pilot in Marine Fighting Squadron ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-ONE (VMF-121), Marine Air Group FOURTEEN (MAG-14), FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing, in aerial combat against enemy Japanese forces in the vicinity of Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on 11 November 1942. When a hostile attacking force of twenty bombers and thirty Zero fighters approached Henderson Field, Major Davis personally led a flight of twelve fighters to meet the enemy. Making contact one hundred miles northwest of Guadalcanal, he and his flight boldly penetrated the screen of enemy fighters and shot down eighteen of the hostile bombers and fifteen fighter planes. Although suffering from wounds and with his plane damaged by a direct hit in the cockpit, he personally accounted for two of the Japanese fighter aircraft destroyed, while his flight dispersed the remaining forces of the enemy. During his entire tour of duty at Guadalcanal, Major Davis is credited with the destruction of five enemy planes. His valiant leadership, cool courage, and gallant devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.