The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to First Lieutenant Richard S. Wilcox (MCSN: 0-27457), 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 THREE HUNDRED TWENTY-TWO (VMF-322), Marine Air Group THIRTY-THREE (MAG-33), FOURTH Marine Aircraft Wing, in aerial combat against enemy Japanese forces in the vicinity of the Ryukyu Islands, on 13 May 1945. When his Section Leader was forced to return to the base during a picket patrol, First Lieutenant Wilcox immediately volunteered to remain on station alone despite extremely adverse weather conditions, darkness and the great distance between himself and his base. Contacting a hostile aircraft shortly thereafter, he bravely pressed home an attack through anti-aircraft fire to shoot down the enemy plane intent on making a suicide dive on our ships, thereby undoubtedly saving at least one of our vessels from a probable hit. His outstanding courage, airmanship and unwavering devotion to duty reflect the highest credit upon First Lieutenant Wilcox and the United States Naval Service.