Lieutenant Junior Grade Cross was the pilot of a F9F-2 Pantherjet fighter with Fighter Squadron 191 aboard the aircraft carrier USS Princeton (CV-37). On 14 June 1952, while on a railroad interdiction run, his aircraft was hit by enemy ground fire, crashed and exploded. His remains were not recovered. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.

For his leadership and valor, Lieutenant Junior Grade Cross was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with Gold Star, the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.