The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Harold J. W. Eppler, 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, consisting of battleships, carriers and heavy cruisers, on 24 July 1945. He skillfully and courageously led his division of planes in a bombing attack against a battleship-carrier despite intense anti-aircraft fire which resulted in three of four pilots in his flight scoring direct hits on the ship. He himself, despite serious damage to his plane by enemy fire suffered during his dive, scored a direct hit on the vessel 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.