The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to First Lieutenant Richard O. Hansen (MCSN: 0-28077), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Pilot of a Fighter Plane in Marine Fighting Squadron TWO HUNDRED TWENTY-FOUR (VMF-224), Marine Air Group THIRTY-ONE (MAG-31), FOURTH Marine Aircraft Wing, in aerial combat against enemy Japanese forces at Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, on 6 May 1945. While flying on radar picket patrol, First Lieutenant Hansen observed an enemy plane attempting a suicide run on a friendly destroyer and, courageously diving through an intense barrage of anti-aircraft fire from seven ships, succeeded in shooting down the Japanese plane fifty feet from the destroyer, thereby undoubtedly saving the ship from damage or possible destruction. His daring airmanship, courage and gallant devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.