The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Quartermaster Second Class Philip J. Strachan, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving on a steamer used in experimental mine sweeping on the North Sea barrage. In a gale and heavy sea, the main topmast broke in two, the upper part dropping down and whipping around. Quartermaster Second Class Strahan jumped into the rigging, and at great danger to himself, cut the part adrift.