Alex's Medal of Honor nomination ( Page 1 / Page 2 ) only gives part of the picture [Notes Added in Brackets]:

 

VP-l6/Pi5/jjl   Fighting Squadron Sixteen Fleet   Post Office San Francisco, California   26 June 1944   From: Commander, Fighting Squadron Sixteen.     [LCDR Paul Buie - Later Rear Admiral]*   To: The Secretary of the Navy   Via: (1) Commander, Air Group Sixteen.       [CDR E. M. Snowden - Later Rear Admiral]*         (2) Commanding Officer, U.S.S. LEXINGTON.       [CAPT E. W. Litch - Later Rear Admiral]*         (3) Commander. Task Group 58.3.       [Admiral Marc Mitscher]*         (4) Commander. Fast Carrier Task Forces, Pacific Fleet.       [Admiral Raymond A. Spruance]*         (5) Commander Air Force, Pacific Fleet.       [Admiral George D. Murray]         (6) Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet.       [Admiral Chester W. Nimitz]   Subject:   Recommendation for award in the case of: Alexander VRACIU, Lt.(jg). A-V(N). USNR, (I24731)   Reference: (a) SecNav Circular Letter of 7 March 1944.                     (b) Pacific Fleet ltr. 30L-44 of 23 May 1944.                     (c) CTF 58 Itr. serial 169 of 19 June 1944.   Enclosures: (A) Suggested Citation for Congressional Medal of Honor.   1. This squadron was assigned the mission of conducting air operations against enemy aircraft, installations, and personnel at various enemy bases in the Marianas, in support of a landing by our forces on 15 June 1944 on Saipan Island, while assigned to a Task Group operating under Commander, Fast Carrier Task Forces, Pacific Fleet. On 19 June 1944 during the course of these operations, our naval forces were heavily attacked by enemy carrier based aircraft; and fighter pilots of this Squadron played an important part in intercepting and defeating these attacks, shooting down 45 enemy planes. On 20 June 1944 pilots of the Squadron escorted our carrier based bomber and torpedo planes in a long range strike which inflicted heavy damage on the enemy fleet.   2. These air operations included 388 sorties (exclusive of normal Anti-Submarine and Combat Aif Patrols where there was no contact with the enemy) over the two-week period from 11 June 1944 to 25 June 1944, inclusive, and resulted in the following damage to the enemy:   (a) Forty-eight aircraft destroyed (airborne).   (b) Four aircraft probably destroyed (airborne).   (c) Sixteen aircraft destroyed (on ground).   (d) One 6,500 ton AK sunk.   (e) One 2,000 - 2,500 ton AK damaged.   In addition, more than 500 strafing runs were made against anti-aircraft positions, temporarily or permanently silencing many anti-aircraft guns; thirteen trucks were burned and destroyed; 7 Sampans or launches were set on fire and left sinking.   CERTIFIED TO BE A TRUE COPY   (SIGNED)   R.C. GILLETTE, LCDR, USN   Director, Officer Records Division(1)  (Page 1 of 2)

 

VF-16/PlS/jjl   Fighting Squadron Sixteen   c/o Fleet Post Office   San Francisco, Calif.   26 June 1944   Subject: Recommendation for award in the case of:                 Alexander VRACIU, Lt.(jg), A-V(N), USNR, (124731)   ---------------------------------------------------------------------------   3. In compliance with paragraph eight (8) of reference (a), a brief summary of the part taken in these actions by the subject officer (listed also in paragraph four (4) below) and a description of the especial achievement or outstanding acts of service accomplished by him are set forth herein:                 (a) Lt.(jg) Alexander VRACIU, A-V(N), USNR, led a team of fighters carrying 500 pound bombs in an attack on enemy shipping in Tanapag harbor, Saipan, on 12 June 1944. In the face of intense anti-aircraft fire, he made a low level or "masthead" bombing attack against the largest Japanese ship in the harbor, a 6,500 ton AK, and sank it with a direct hit on the stern at the waterline. On 14 June 1944 in the course of a strike against enemy positions in the Islands north of Saipan and while at an altitude of 3000 feet, he sighted an enemy search plane at an altitude of 18000 feet. He approached the enemy plane so skillfully, keeping in its "blind spot" that despite its altitude advantage he was able to overhaul it and shoot it down in flames. On 19 June 1944, during the large-scale a attacks by Japanese carrier based aircraft against U. S. Naval Forces, near the Marianas Islands, he was one of thirteen pilots of this Squadron launched to meet the first wave of the attack. He intercepted a formation of 30-40 enemy dive bombers (Judies) at a distance of approximately 30 miles from our forces and single-handed, in the face of enemy fighter opposition, succeeded in shooting six of them down in flames, thus contributing tremendously to the breaking up of this attack on our ships. On 20 June 1944, he was one of a nine-plane fighter escort, which escorted our bombers and torpedo-planes on a strike of over 300 miles, against the Japanese battle fleet; and while covering the torpedo planes as they went in to attack, engaged five or six different enemy fighters (Zekes), shot one of them down in flames and damaged another, thus materially assisting our torpedo planes in pressing home attacks which resulted in the probable sinking an enemy carrier. He then returned 300 miles to base and landed safely aboard one of our carriers under extremely hazardous conditions, including total darkness. The planes destroyed by Lt.(jg) VRACIU in these actions raised to nineteen his total of planes shot down in the air. This is believed to be a record for U.S. carrier based pilots.   4. The following officer is recommended for the award shown below, with citation as suggested in the appropriate enclosure hereto:   CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR   Alexander VRACIU         Lt.(jg), 124731         A-V(N),USNR   CERTIFIED TO BE A TRUE COPY   (SIGNED)   R.C. GILLETTE, LCDR, USN   Director, Officer Records Division  (Page 2 of 2)

  In summary, Alex was nominated for the following heroic actions:

 

Four Missions (June 12, 14, 19, and 20), including the "Mission Beyond Darkness" of 20 June, the longest carrier strike of the war. Here he single-handedly engaged five or six enemy fighters (downing one and damaging another) at extreme peril to allow our dive bombers to sink an enemy carrier.
 

8 Aerial Victories and one probable (six of them in one mission on 19 June, which, in the midst of friendly anti-aircraft fire and with a badly malfunctioning engine, saved the Lexington from Dive Bomber attack) all in the face of intense fighter opposition.
 

The solo sinking of a 6,500-ton Japanese Merchant ship despite intense enemy anti-aircraft fire.
 

Setting the all-time record for Naval Aces at that time with 19 victories.

  The nomination was approved by five of Vraciu's immediate superiors, including Admirals Marc Mitscher and Raymond Spruance. The other three would also attain the rank of Admiral.

  But this is where things took a turn...

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  Medal of Honor Controversy Part II - Garbled Communications, Admiral Murray, and The Navy Cross

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