The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Harold J. W. Eppler, United States Naval Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action 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 a bombing attack against enemy carriers anchored in Kobe harbor, Honshu, Japan, on 19 March 1945. He led two divisions of torpedo bombers in an attack on two Japanese carriers despite intense anti-aircraft fire. The attack left one carrier aflame from bow to stern, the other flaming and burning. He personally scored two hits on the bow of a large carrier pressing home his attack with disregard for his own safety. His courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.