The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Chief Boatswain’s Mate Roy H. Syphax, United States Navy, for distinguished service in the line of his profession in connection with the preliminary stages of the development and testing of the submarine escape device known as the “Lung,” in 1931. With the final apparatus he made many test escapes. Due to Chief Boatswain’s Mate Syphax not being able to swim he was used to test apparatus from this point of view; as a non-swimmer. All the tests were preliminary design and tests with final apparatus required extraordinary coolness and courage, necessitating assumption of risks far above the call in line of duty. The Hazards were eagerly accepted by Chief Boatswain’s Mate Syphax to the furtherance of this development, and his work in this connection contributed greatly to the final perfection of the apparatus.