The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant, Junior Grade Robert Lyle Verrall, United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Dive Bomber of Bombing Squadron NINE (VB-9), attached to the U.S.S. YORKTOWN (CV-10), in action against the Japanese on 7 April 1945, while deployed over the East China Sea. As a pilot of a carrier-based dive bombing plane, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Verrall courageously piloted his aircraft in the face of intense and accurate anti-aircraft fire to secure damaging hits on the bridge of an enemy cruiser. Despite low hanging clouds that partially obscured the target he carried his attack past a battleship and screening destroyers to a minimum altitude to aid materially in the immediate sinking of the ship. His devotion to duty, skill and courage displayed in this operation were at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.