The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant, Junior Grade [then Ensign] William James Carberry (NSN: 0-403621), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane in Bombing Fighting Squadron SIX (VBF-6), attached to the U.S.S. HANCOCK (CV-19), during a strike against enemy Japanese Fleet units at Kure harbor, Japan, on 28 July 1945. Displaying outstanding courage and skill, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Carberry made a bombing run on an enemy battleship despite intense and extremely accurate anti-aircraft fire from enemy ship and shore batteries, and scored a direct hit with a 1,000-pound bomb, thereby contributing materially to sinking the vessel. Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Carberry’s airmanship and devotion to duty reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service.