The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Machinist’s Mate First Class Harry A. Ropke, United States Navy, for distinguished and exceptionally meritorious service in the line of his profession as an Aviation Observer; especially for heroic action in bombing and destroying enemy submarines. Machinist’s Mate First Class Ropke was badly injured in an accident while returning from a bombing raid. The pilot of this plane was killed. Machinist’s Mate Ropke was awarded the Croix de Guerre with star by the French Government.