The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Engineer Second Class R. A. Wixon, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct during an accident sustained by the U.S.S. BARNEGAT on 21 February 1918. Engineman Second Class Wixon, a member of the engineroom force, with others, was in the fireroom three minutes after the accident occurred, which was flooded with escaping steam, and had the fires pulled.