The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Ensign William Evan Nicholson, Jr., 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 NINETY-FOUR (VB-94), attached to the U.S.S. LEXINGTON (CV-16), in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Inland Sea, Kure, Japan, on 28 July 1945. Participating in a coordinated attack against major units of the Japanese Fleet, ensign Nicholson dived through intense anti-aircraft fire from ship and shore installations to score a direct hit at the waterline of an enemy battleship, thereby contributing materially to the infliction of vital damage on this vessel. His airmanship, courage and gallant devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.