The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Commander [then Lieutenant Commander] James V. Eubank, Jr., United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commander of a Naval Beach Battalion, during the amphibious assault on the West Coast of Italy, from 9 to 26 September 1943. During the first phases of the assault, Commander Eubank successfully established the battalion under his command on the beaches in the Gulf of Salerno and, skillfully organizing divisional beach activities, made complete and meticulous preparations for the expeditious disembarkation of the assault troops. Fearlessly directing beach operations under fierce enemy aerial and ground attack, he provided a steady flow of urgent supplies and equipment in support of our invasion forces during the critical maintenance period.