The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Commander Henry Gilbert Shonerd, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism on the occasion of the collision between the U.S.S. SHAW and H.M.S. AQUITANIA on 9 October 1918, when the Shaw was cut in two and set on fire. Commander Shonerd, of the Shaw, with other officers and enlisted men, threw overboard a large quantity of 4-inch ammunition which was on deck only a few feet from a blazing oil tank, and this while the ammunition near them was already exploding. This heroic action saved the ship from complete destruction, and made it possible for her to proceed to port under her own steam, in spite of the loss of her bow.