The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander [then Lieutenant] Merrill Jerome Hemby (NSN: 0-97742), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Dive Bomber and Section Leader in Bombing Squadron EIGHTY-FIVE (VB-85), attached to the U.S.S. SHANGRI-LA (CV-38), during an attack against major units of the Japanese Fleet in Kure Harbor, Japan, on 24 July 1945. Leading his section of aircraft through adverse weather and intense hostile anti-aircraft fire from both ships and shore batteries, Lieutenant Commander Hemby aggressively pressed home his attack to score a direct hit with a 1,000-pound bomb on the Japanese battleship HARUNA. When one of the pilots in his flight was wounded by anti-aircraft fire, Lieutenant Commander Hemby went to his aid and, despite a dangerously low fuel supply, courageously remained with the aviator and signaled to him until the pilot succeeded in flying his damaged plane to a friendly destroyer for a safe water landing. Returning to his carrier after dark with fuel so low that his engine stopped when the plane was close to the ramp, he quickly switched to another fuel tank. Although this tank also registered empty, he skillfully piloted his plane around the starboard side of the ship below the level of the flight deck and landed aboard on the next approach. His daring airmanship and coolness under fire were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.