The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Commander Gilbert Jonathan Rowcliff, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious service in a duty of great responsibility as Gunnery Officer on the Staff of the Commander, Battleship Force 2 of the Atlantic Fleet, in which capacity during a trip abroad he acquired valuable information as to foreign methods of fire control which were later applied by him with excellent results in improving target practice in the Atlantic Fleet during World War I.