The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Chief Quartermaster Henry John Williams, United States Navy, for distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commander of the Armed Guard of the S.S. NANESMOND, and in an encounter with an enemy submarine. On 19 January 1918, sighted a submarine, signaled convoy and opened fire, six shots without hits. Escorting destroyers steamed to vicinity and the submarine disappeared.