The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant, Junior Grade James R. A. Poepper (NSN: 0-337942), 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 FORTY-SEVEN (VT-47), attached to the U.S.S. BATAAN (CVL-29), in action on 28 July 1945, while deployed over Kure, Japan. As pilot of a carrier based torpedo bomber, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Poepper participated in an attack against units of the enemy fleet in Kure Harbor on the Japanese mainland island of Honshu. In the face of intense and accurate anti-aircraft gunfire from fleet units and shore installations, he nevertheless pressed home his attack, scoring a bomb hit on a Japanese heavy cruiser and contributed materially to the sinking of that vessel immediately after the attack. His skill and courage were at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.