The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant George D. Shimek (NSN: 0-158269), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane in Fighting Squadron THIRTY-ONE (VF-31), attached to the U.S.S. CABOT (CVL-28), in action on 24 July 1945. As the leader of a four-plane fighter strike against major enemy warships at Kure Harbor, Japan, Lieutenant Shimek aggressively led his flight through heavy, intense and accurate anti-aircraft fire, to press home a dive bombing attack and score a direct bomb hit on the Japanese battleship ISE, thus contributing to the final destruction of the last effective units of the once might Japanese Navy. His leadership and skillful airmanship were at all times inspiring and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.