The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Ensign Walter Frederick Nickel, United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Torpedo Plane in Torpedo Squadron SEVENTEEN (VT-17), attached to the U.S.S. HORNET (CV-12), in action against enemy Japanese forces in the East China Sea, on 7 April 1945. Participating in a coordinated strike against an enemy task force consisting of a battleship, cruisers and destroyers, Ensign Nickel attacked the hostile battleship in the face of extremely intense anti-aircraft fire and, scoring a direct hit with his torpedo, contributed materially to the sinking of the Japanese warship. His skilled airmanship, courage and devotion to duty upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.