The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Chief Boatswain’s Mate Hurley A. Thomas, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in preventing a collision on 24 October 1917, between a Japanese ship loaded with high explosive, and the U.S.S. Von Steuben, at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. When all the men had dispersed from the deck, Chief Boatswain’s Mate Thomas jumped to the No. 10 5-inch gun and succeeded in getting it trained clear before the projecting boats and davits of the Japanese steamer got to the point of contact with this ship.