The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Distinguished Service Medal to Lieutenant Commander Herbert R. O. Johnston, United States Navy (Reserve Force), for exceptionally meritorious service in a duty of great responsibility as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. LAKE FOREST engaged in the important, exacting and hazardous duty of transporting supplies through waters infested with mines and especially for an engagement with an enemy submarine on 27 June 1918, as a result of which it is believed that the submarine was severely damaged.