The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant James Paul Lang, United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Torpedo Plane and Division Leader of a Flight of Torpedo Squadron ONE (VT-1), attached to the U.S.S. Bennington (CV-20), in action against major units of the enemy Japanese Fleet at Kure Naval Base on 28 July 1945. In the face of intense and accurate anti-aircraft fire from numerous warships and strategically-placed shore batteries, Lieutenant Lang courageously led his division in a low-altitude bombing attack against a heavy cruiser to score one direct hit and assist in the scoring of another. After releasing his bombs, he carried out strafing runs on anti-aircraft positions, thereby contributing materially to the success of an epic strike in which all capital ships of the Japanese Fleet at Kure were sunk or damaged. By his airmanship, gallant fighting spirit and devotion to duty, Lieutenant Lang upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.