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View Full Version : U.S. Ralph Ettinger , Navy Cross , WW2



bobdina
10-14-2009, 02:35 PM
Navy Cross

Authorized February 4, 1919, the Navy Cross was the Navy's third highest award for combat heroism and other distinguished services. On August 7, 1942, Congress made the Navy Cross a combat only decoration with precedence over the Distinguished Service Medal, making it the Navy's second highest award ranking below only the Medal of Honor. It shares its position with the Army's Distinguished Service Cross and the Air Force Cross.



Ralph Ettinger

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Awards and Citations

1.
Navy Cross

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Awarded for actions during the World War II

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander [then Lieutenant] Ralph Daniel Ettinger, United States Naval (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Plane Commander of a Navy Patrol Bomber in Patrol Bombing Squadron ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-ONE (VPB-121), in action against enemy Japanese forces over the coast of Honshu, Japan, on 3 August 1945. Discovering a downed Army pilot in a life boat in Sagami Wan while carrying out a search and reconnaissance patrol in company with another Privateer, Lieutenant Commander Ettinger departed in a search of a life-guard submarine to pick up the survivor and, encountering a 700-ton hostile cargo vessel, pressed home an aggressive bombing attack to assist in sinking the enemy vessel. After locating a life-guard submarine and directing it to the survivor, he defended the surfaced vessel and survivor against persistent attacks by eight enemy planes for forty minutes, shooting down two and damaging a third. By his brilliant airmanship, determined fighting spirit and devotion to duty, Lieutenant Commander Ettinger contributed greatly to the success of this difficult air-sea rescue and his actions throughout upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.