Capano, Patsy, LT

The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Lieutenant Patsy Capano (NSN: 0-115004), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Torpedo Plane in Composite Squadron THREE (VC-3), attached to the U.S.S. KALININ BAY (CVE-68), and deployed over Samar in action against enemy Japanese forces during the Second Battle of the Philippine Sea 25 October 1944. With his task forces under attack and in imminent danger of being destroyed by heavy enemy gunfire from an overwhelming force of hostile warships, Lieutenant Capano, piloting one of the first planes launched, immediately maneuvered to attack the leading heavy cruiser and, in bold defiance of the enemy's devastating anti-aircraft fire, scored three direct hits. Promptly joining a group of fighting planes when his bomb load was expended, Lieutenant Capano fought gallantly in the face of terrific opposition, making four determined staffing runs which resulted in considerable damage to the cruiser and effectively diverted the hostile fire from our attacking bombers and Torpedo Planes. By his superb airmanship, unrelenting aggressiveness and indomitable fighting spirit despite tremendous odds, Lieutenant Capano contributed immeasurable to the extensive damage inflicted on the Japanese Fleet and to the success of our task group in forcing the enemy to break off the engagement with minimum loss to our units. His great personal valor and tenacious devotion to duty throughout reflect the highest credit upon the United States Naval Service.