LIEUTENANT COMMANDER (then Lieutenant Junior Grade) ROBERT D. GIBSON, UNITED STATES NAVAL RESERVE. For extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession as Bombing Pilot of the U.S.S. ENTERPRISE during the engagement with enemy Japanese Naval and air forces in the Solomon Islands Area on November 14 and 15, 1942. With utter disregard for his own personal safety, Lieutenant (junior grade) Gibson made, and skillfully developed, contact with a large force of enemy cruisers and destroyers. Attacking a Nachi-class heavy cruiser and several enemy transports, he scored a direct hit on the cruiser and on a transport. After his plane had destroyed one Zero-type fighter and hit another, he brought his ship gallantly through the engagement, although badly damaged by enemy fire. The next day, returning to attack a beached Japanese transport, he bombed and exploded it. His remarkable courage, expert skill and fearless devotion to duty were an inspiration to his men and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Mr. Gibson was a life member and resided in Arizona.