The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Sidney Clark Seagraves, Jr. (NSN: 0-114682), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Torpedo Plane and Division Leader of four torpedo planes in Torpedo Squadron NINETY-FOUR (VT-94), attached to the U.S.S. LEXINGTON (CV-16), in action against enemy Japanese forces at the important Japanese Naval Anchorage, Kure, Honshu, Japan, on 28 July 1945. While participating in a coordinated attack against major units of the Japanese Fleet in their heavily-defended anchorage, Lieutenant Seagraves pressed home his attack despite intense and accurate anti-aircraft fire from harbor positions and from the several ships dispersed throughout the area, scoring a direct hit on a heavy cruiser, thus contributing materially to its destruction. He then effected a rendezvous of his division and led it safely back to the carrier, a distance of two hundred and ten miles despite unfavorable weather conditions. His outstanding heroism and determination to inflict damage upon the enemy were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.