The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Commander Ralph Judd Arnold (NSN: 0-57920), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Supply Officer on board the Aircraft Carrier U.S.S. YORKTOWN (CV-5), in preparation for, during and after the Battle on 4 June 1942, and in attempted salvage of that ship on 6 June 1942. By vigorous application of his knowledge of aircraft material, to the procurement of necessary supplies and spare parts and to the organization of his department so as to make them readily available under all conditions, he contributed greatly to the ability of the YORKTOWN and her Air Group to maintain the state of material readiness necessary to the successful accomplishment of the Air Group’s mission in the Battle of Midway. In this battle, as in the Battle of the Coral Sea, he voluntarily served in the ammunition supply of a 5-inch gun. After torpedo hits had made it necessary to abandon the YORKTOWN, he, with great coolness and excellent organizing ability, assisted in directing personnel in abandonment of the ship. As a member of the volunteer party who attempted to salvage the YORKTOWN, he worked unceasingly in organizing the commissary department for subsisting the salvage crew on board. In order to better carry out these duties, he entered and inspected various compartment son the lower decks adjacent to the compartments which had been flooded, without regard for his personal safety, while the ship was in a precarious condition. By taking charge of and directing the efforts of a YORKTOWN man lowered into the water on a line, he was personally responsible for rescuing two members of the U.S.S. HAMMAN’s crew when that vessel was torpedoed. Later he worked zealously in transferring wounded from the YORKTOWN to a tug alongside. In this work, carried out under dangerous and difficult conditions, he made excellent use of his previous line officer experience. He volunteered to return to the YORKTOWN after the salvage party had left her on 6 June. His actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.