The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant, Junior Grade [then Ensign] Charles Otto McDaniel, United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of an Armed and Photographically Equipped Plane in a Photographic Section of Fighting Squadron TWELVE (VF-12), attached to the U.S.S. RANDOLPH (CV-15), during operations against enemy Japanese forces in the vicinity of Kyushu, Japan, on 13 and 14 May 1945. Airborne eight hours daily and subjected to intense, accurate anti-aircraft fire, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, McDaniel succeeded in evading enemy aerial opposition and in obtaining pictorially accurate conditions of airfields and industrial plants. Immediately after his take-off on 14 May, he intercepted a hostile twin-engined fighter about to attack a vessel of the Task Force and, sighting accurately, shot it down. On special rescue combat air patrol after this engagement, he participated in strafing and driving off two enemy destroyers in the vicinity of a downed pilot and his crewman and maintained his position until they were taken from the water. Resuming his original mission, he secured photographs of his objectives and returned to his ship. His courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.