The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Leslie James Fry, United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Dive Bomber of Bombing Squadron NINE (VB-9), attached to the U.S.S. YORKTOWN (CV-10), in action against enemy Japanese forces in the East China Sea on 7 April 1945. Undaunted by intense anti-aircraft fire and a low cloud cover which obscured the target, Lieutenant Fry led his section in a low altitude glide-bombing attack against units of the enemy Fleet, including a battleship, a cruiser and screening destroyers, personally scoring direct hits on the port side of the cruiser and contributing to its sinking. By his leadership and devotion to duty, Lieutenant Fry upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.