The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant, Junior Grade Harold Gayle Hudson, United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Dive Bomber in Bombing Squadron EIGHTY-SEVEN (VB-87), attached to the U.S.S. TICONDEROGA (CV-14), in action against enemy Japanese forces in the vicinity of Kure, Japan, on 28 July 1945. Braving intense enemy anti-aircraft fire from the ship and from shore batteries along the approach and retirement courses, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Hudson skillfully pressed home an attack against the heavy enemy cruiser TONE, scoring a direct hit with a 1,000-pound bomb and contributing materially to the beaching of the hostile vessel. His airmanship and courageous devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.