The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Captain John Fore Hines, United States Navy, for distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. CLEVELAND and the U.S.S. CHARLESTON, engaged in the important, exacting, and hazardous duty of escorting convoys of troops and supplies to European ports through waters infested with enemy submarines and mines during World War I, also for duty as Chief of Staff to the Commander, Newport News Division, Cruiser and Transport Force and Harbor Floating Equipment.