The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant, Junior Grade [then Ensign] Thomas Richard Jones, III, United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane in Fighting Bombing Squadron ONE (VFB-1), attached to the U.S.S. BENNINGTON (CV-20), in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Inland Sea of Japan, on 28 July 1945. Participating in an attack on major units of the hostile Fleet, including aircraft carriers, battleships, cruisers and destroyers, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Jones courageously carried out a dive-bombing run on an enemy cruiser and, despite adverse weather conditions and intense and accurate anti-aircraft fire from Japanese warships and numerous shore batteries, scored a direct hit which inflicted serious damage to the enemy vessel. By his airmanship, fighting spirit and gallant devotion to duty, he contributed materially to the success of the mission and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.