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 Lucas Jasper Nelson, United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Dive Bomber and Division Leader in Bombing Squadron ONE (VB-1), attached to the U.S.S. YORKTOWN (CVL-10), in action against major units of the enemy Japanese Fleet at Kure Naval Base, Japan, on 28 July 1945. When intense and accurate anti-aircraft fire imperiled his division before it could launch its attack, Lieutenant Nelson rapidly initiated new tactics which enabled the pilots of his division to score hits and inflict extensive damage on an ISE class battleship. He personally pressed home an aggressive attack to obtain a direct hit on the warship. By his skill as an airman and aggressive fighting spirit, Lieutenant Nelson contributed materially to the success of his squadron in an epic strike in which all capital ships of the Japanese Fleet at Kure were either sunk or damaged. His devotion to duty was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.