The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander [then Lieutenant] Edward Terhune LaRoe, United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Dive Bomber and Flight Leader of Bombing Squadron EIGHTY-EIGHT (VB-88), attached to the U.S.S. YORKTOWN (CV-10), in action against major units of the Japanese Fleet at Honshu, Japan, on 18, 24, and 28 July 1945. Fearlessly disregarding intense anti-aircraft fire sent up from surrounding warships and shore batteries, Lieutenant Commander LaRoe led his squadron on a strike against the battleship NAGATO moored to a pier at the Yokosuka Naval Base, personally scoring a damaging near miss on the hostile vessel. On 24 July, he directed a coordinated attack against an enemy battleship which resulted in the infliction of extensive damage and, again on 28 July, braved hostile anti-aircraft fire to lead his flight in carrying out another attack on an enemy battleship, which scored three direct hits and four near misses, personally scoring a near miss on the hostile ship. By his expert evasive tactics, Lieutenant Commander LaRoe was in large measure responsible for the safe return of all planes, and his airmanship, courage and devotion to duty reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service.