John D. Bulkeley’s SECOND Distinguished Service Cross citation

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Service Cross to

John Duncan Bulkeley

Lieutenant, U.S. Navy

for service as set forth in the following

CITATION:

for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Commanding Officer, Motor Torpedo Boat THIRTY-FOUR (PT-34), Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron THREE (MTB-3), in action in the Mindanao Sea, Philippine Islands, on the night of 8 – 9 April 1942. When Lieutenant Bulkeley, in command of Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron THREE encountered a hostile cruiser accompanied by destroyers, he unhesitatingly ordered an attack by the two boats in his squadron in spite of the tremendous odds. After the vessel on which he was embarked had fired all its torpedoes in an attack against the enemy cruiser, Lieutenant Bulkeley, at great personal risk, directed the aggressive maneuver of this vessel so as to draw to it the bulk of the hostile fire, enabling the other boat to deliver a torpedo attack at close range. As a result of this daring, combined maneuver, the enemy cruiser was destroyed. After this action, Lieutenant Bulkeley skillfully withdrew his command, evading the pursuing hostile destroyers. The conduct of Lieutenant Bulkeley throughout this action reflects great credit upon himself, and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Military Forces of the United States.