Kirk Armistead’s Navy Cross citation

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to

Kirk Armistead

Captain, U.S. Marine Corps

for service as set forth in the following

CITATION:

for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession while serving as Commander and a Pilot of the Third Division, Marine Fighting Squadron TWO HUNDRED TWENTY-ONE (VMF-221), Marine Air Group TWENTY-TWO (MAG-22), Naval Air Station, Midway, during operations of the U.S. Naval and Marine Forces against the invading Japanese Fleet during the Battle of Midway on 4 June 1942. Leading his division in a dauntless and aggressive assault against a vastly superior number of Japanese bomber and fighter planes, Major Armistead, then Captain, shot down one Navy Aichi Type dive bomber, thereby aiding in the disruption of enemy plans and lessening the effectiveness of their attack. His courageous determination, maintained at great personal risk against tremendous odds, contributed to the success of our forces and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.