The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Chief Shipfitter Alfred W. Pickering, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession as a diver during the rescue and salvage operations following the sinking of the U.S.S. SQUALUS on 23 May 1939. Chief Shipfitter Alfred Pickering’s courage and devotion to duty in making repeated dangerous dives during the most difficult diving conditions characterized conduct far and beyond the call of duty.