The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Captain James L. Neefus (MCSN: 0-5391), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession while serving as Commander of a division of fighting planes and Pilot of an aircraft in Marine Fighting Squadron TWO HUNDRED TWENTY-ONE (VMF-221), Marine Air Group TWENTY-TWO (MAG-22), Naval Air Station, Midway, in action with the enemy during aerial combat in the vicinity of Midway Island on 10 March 1942. During the near approach of an enemy four-engined seaplane to the Island of Midway, Captain Neefus, with his command, was ordered to intercept and destroy the enemy plane. Despite difficult aerial combat conditions, because of heavy cloud formations of which the enemy plane took full advantage in his evasive tactics, Captain Neefus led his command of fighting planes into the action in a determined, aggressive and effective manner which resulted in the destruction of the enemy four-engined seaplane without loss to his own force. The action throughout was conducted in accordance with the best traditions of the United States Naval Service.