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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
MINISTRY OF NATIONAL DEFENSE
GENERAL HEADQUARTERS, ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES
Camp General Emilio Aquinaldo, Quezon City
12 October 1984
AGMD2
GENERAL ORDERS
NUMBER 797
AWARD OF THE PHILIPPINE REPUBLIC
PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION BADGE
By direction of the President, pursuant to
paragraph 91 1, Section II, Armed Forces of the Philippines Regulations G
131-052, this Headquarters, dated 24 April 1967, as amended, the PHILIPPINE
REPUBLIC PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION BADGE is hereby awarded to
TASK UNIT SEVENTY-SEVEN POINT FOUR POINT THREE, consisting of the
U.S.S. FANSHAW BAY and VC-88; U.S.S. GAMBIER BAY and VC-10; U.S.S. KALININ BAY and VC-3;
U.S.S. KITKUN BAY and VC-5; U.S.S. SAINT LO and VC-65; U.S.S. WHITE PLAINS and VC-4;
U.S.S. HOEL, U.S.S. JOHNSTON, U.S.S. HEERMANN, U.S.S. SAMUEL B. ROBERTS, U.S.S. RAYMOND,
U.S.S. DENNIS and U.S.S. JOHN C. BUTLER
for acts and services of exceptional gallantry and heroism rendered by
its officers and crew to the Philippines and its people during the battle off Samar,
Philippines, on 25 October 1944 when Task Unit 77.4.3 (Taffy III), to which USS KITKUN BAY
belonged, was given a vital mission to protect General MacArthur's forces in Leyte Gulf.
As the Central Japanese Force steamed through San Bernardino Strait towards Leyte Gulf,
Task Unit 77.4.3 was suddenly attacked by hostile cruisers on its port hand, destroyers on
the starboard and battleships from the rear. Quickly laying down a heavy smoke screen, the
gallant ships of the Task Unit fiercely waged a battle against the superior speed and
firepower of the advancing enemy, swiftly launching and rearming aircraft and violently
zigzagging in protection of vessels stricken by hostile armor-piercing shells and suicide
bombers. The courageous determination and the superb teamwork of the officers and men of
the USS KITKUN BAY greatly contributed to the Task Unit's mission of effecting the
retirement of a hostile force that threatened the Leyte invasion operation. By these
achievements, TASK UNIT SEVENTY-SEVEN POINT FOUR POINT THREE earned the lasting admiration of the Philippine Republic and
its people.
BY ORDER OF THE DEFENSE MINISTER:
OFFICIAL:
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