The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant [then Lieutenant, Junior Grade] Shelby Wilson Mitchell, United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Dive Bomber in Bombing Squadron EIGHTY-THREE (VB-83), attached to the U.S.S. ESSEX (CV-9), in action against enemy Japanese forces in the vicinity of the East China Sea, on 7 April 1945. Participating in a daring attack against major units of the enemy Fleet, Lieutenant Mitchell plunged in over the Japanese Task Force and, executing his run at a perilously low altitude in the face of intense and accurate anti-aircraft fire, succeeded in scoring direct, damaging bomb hits on the enemy battleship which contributed materially to the sinking of this vessel. His airmanship, courage and devotion to duty reflect the highest credit upon Lieutenant Mitchell and the United States Naval Service.