The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant, Junior Grade Robert Salisbury Nesbitt, United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Torpedo Plane in Torpedo Squadron SIX (VT-6), attached to the U.S.S. HANCOCK (CV-19), in the attack on major units of the Japanese fleet in Kure Harbor, Japan, consisting of battleships, carriers and heavy cruisers, on 24 July 1945. Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Nesbitt skillfully and courageously piloted his aircraft in a bombing attack against a battleship-carrier despite intense anti-aircraft fire, and scored a direct hit with his bomb which contributed materially to the major damage inflicted on the ship. His skill and courage were at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.