The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant, Junior Grade Francis D. Boyers (NSN: 0-337353), 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 Bombing Squadron EIGHTY-FIVE (VTB-85), attached to the U.S.S. SHANGRI-LA (CV-38), in the attack of 28 July 1945, made by planes of the Second Carrier Task Force on enemy battleships, cruisers, and destroyers at Kure, Japan. Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Boyers pressed his attack home in spite of intense and accurate anti-aircraft fire from heavy combat ships and shore batteries and, releasing his bombs at low altitude, scored two direct hits with five-hundred-pound bombs on the battleship HARUNA, inflicting material damage. His skill and courage were at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.