at least 40 of them dying in the water while awaiting rescue. Commander Kintberger described the courageous devotion to duty of the men of the Hoel in a seaman's epitaph to the action: "Fully cognizant of the inevitable result of engaging such vastly superior forces, these men performed their assigned duties coolly and efficiently until their ship was shot from under them." Awards In addition to the United States Presidential Unit Citation, Hoel received the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation and five battle stars for World War II service. Notes References Books External links USS Hoel-Naval Historical Center NavSource.org DD-533 USS Johnston-Hoel Association Hoel (DD-533) World War II shipwrecks in the Philippine Sea Ships built in San Francisco 1942 ships Hoel (DD-533) Maritime incidents in October 1944 Shipwrecks of the Philippines