Navy Cross
Awarded for Actions During World War II
Service: Navy
Division: U.S.S. Essex (CV-9)
General Orders: Commander in Chief Pacific: Serial 01892 (May 14, 1944)
Citation: The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Lieutenant Commander Philip Huston Torrey, Jr. (NSN: 0-73559), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Plane and Commander of Air Group NINE (AG-9), attached to the U.S.S. ESSEX (CV-9), in action on 16 and 17 February 1944, while deployed over Truk in the Caroline Islands. On these dates, Lieutenant Commander Torrey coordinated and directed four strikes of the ESSEX and INTREPID Air Groups against the Japanese stronghold in Truk Atoll, Caroline Islands. These were the first strikes of World War II against this great keystone of the Japanese inner line of defenses. He skillfully employed the forces at his command in repeated attacks against enemy combatant ships, merchant shipping, airfields, grounded aircraft and base installations. Despite enemy fighter opposition and in the face of heavy, accurate anti-aircraft fire, these attacks were pressed home successfully and resulted in extensive damage to the enemy's naval and merchant shipping and base installations. He strafed such targets of opportunity as his paramount duties permitted. His leadership, planning, courage and individual actions contributed greatly to the success of this mission as a whole and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Note about citation: Although the General Orders are dated in 1944 and the citation reads the medal was awarded posthumouly, this does not mean LCDR Torrey was killed in 1944. The award was approved in 1944, but not awarded until after his death in 1945.

Torrey, Philip Huston, Jr., LCDR