The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander [then Lieutenant] Thomas Charles Durkin, United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Torpedo Plane and Flight Leader in Torpedo Squadron SEVENTEEN (VT-17), attached to the U.S.S. HORNET (CV-12), in action against enemy Japanese forces in the East China Sea, on 7 April 1945. Deploying his planes for a coordinated strike against an enemy Task Force consisting of a battleship, cruisers and destroyers, Lieutenant Commander Durkin attacked the hostile battleship in the face of extremely intense anti-aircraft fire which severely damaged his own plane, and, scoring a direct hit with his torpedo, contributed materially to the sinking of the Japanese warship. His skilled airmanship, courage and devotion to duty upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.