The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Ensign George R. Pinney (NSN: 0-395403), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Torpedo Plane of Torpedo Squadron ONE (VT-1), attached to the U.S.S. Bennington (CV-20), in action against major units of the enemy Japanese Fleet at the heavily defended Kure Naval Base on 28 July 1945. In spite of intense and accurate anti-aircraft fire from enemy battleships, cruisers, destroyers, and other combatant ships, and from strategically located shore-based batteries of heavy and medium caliber which were brought to bear upon him during the entire course of his bombing run and his retirement, Ensign Pinney courageously pressed home a daring glide bombing attack to low altitude to score two direct hits upon a heavy cruiser, thereby contributing materially to the success of the coordinated attack, which resulted in all capital ships of the Japanese Navy in the vicinity of Kure being either sunk or seriously damaged. His courage and his determination to inflict damage upon the enemy were at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.