The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Harry Franklin Hynd (NSN: 0-158293), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Torpedo Plane and Division Leader in Torpedo Squadron SIX (VT-6), attached to the U.S.S. HANCOCK (CV-19), in action against enemy Japanese forces in Otaru Harbor, Hokkaido, Japan, on 15 July 1945. Attacking enemy shipping from an extremely low level despite adverse weather conditions and a blanket of anti-aircraft fire from shore and ship-based guns which prevented other planes from attacking, Lieutenant Hynd flew through the barrage and scored two bomb hits on a medium-sized cargo ship which was seen to sink. Circling the target in the face of anti-aircraft fire, he completed another attack which set fire to a small freighter. His airmanship, courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.