The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant, Junior Grade John Warren Carter, United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Torpedo Plane in Torpedo Squadron NINE (VT-9), attached to the U.S.S. YORKTOWN (CV-10), in action against major units of the Japanese Fleet off Kyushu, Japan, on 7 April 1945. Flying on instruments through a heavy overcast in a daring torpedo attack against the Japanese battleship YAMATO and four screening destroyers, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Carter broke through the clouds and carried out a perfect torpedo run at point-blank range to score a direct hit on the port quarter of the battleship, thereby contributing materially to its sinking a few minutes later. Forced to fly through a cross-fire of intense anti-aircraft fire during his retirement from the attack, he brought his plane and crew through unscathed. By his superior airmanship and gallant fighting spirit, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Carter upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.