World War II Honoree

George Henry Gay, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Houston, Texas

Honored By

C. Douglas Sterner

ENSIGN. THE SOLE SURVIVOR OF VT-8 DURING THE BATTLE OF MIDWAY. AWARDED THE NAVY CROSS: FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM AND DISTINGUISHED SERVICE BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY AS A PILOT OF TORPEDO SQUADRON EIGHT IN THE AIR BATTLE OF MIDWAY, AGAINST ENEMY JAPANESE FORCES ON JUNE 4, 1942. GRIMLY AWARE OF THE HAZARDOUS CONSEQUENCES OF FLYING WITHOUT FIGHTER PROTECTION AND WITH INSUFFICIENT FUEL TO RETURN TO HIS CARRIER, HE RESOLUTELY AND WITH NO THOUGHT OF HIS OWN LIFE, DELIVERED AN EFFECTIVE TORPEDO ATTACHED AGAINST VIOLENT ASSAULTS OF ENEMY JAPANESE AIRCRAFT AND AGAINST AN ALMOST SOLID BARRAGE OF ANTI-AIRCRAFT FIRE. HIS COURAGEOUS ACTION, CARRIED OUT WITH A GALLANT SPIRIT OF SELF-SACRIFICE AND A CONSCIENTIOUS DEVOTION TO THE FULFILLMENT OF HIS MISSION, WAS A DETERMINING FACTOR IN THE DEFEAT OF THE ENEMY FORCES AND WAS IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE U.S. NAVAL SERVICE.