The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Frederick Everett Kroeger, United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Torpedo Plane and Leader of a Division in Torpedo Squadron TWENTY-THREE (VT-23), attached to the U.S.S. LANGLEY (CV-27), in action against enemy Japanese forces near Kyushu, Japan, on 7 April 1945. Leading his division in a strike on major units of the Japanese Fleet despite weather conditions and hostile anti-aircraft fire, Lieutenant Kroeger attacked a light cruiser, scoring a direct torpedo hit which contributed materially to the sinking of the vessel immediately after the attack. His airmanship, courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.