The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Distinguished Service Medal to Commander Charles A. Blakely, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious service in a duty of great responsibility as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. O’BRIEN engaged in the important, exacting, and hazardous duty of patrolling the waters infested with enemy submarines and mines, in escorting and protecting vitally important convoys of troops and supplies through these waters, and in offensive and defensive action, vigorously and unremittingly prosecuted against all forms of enemy naval activity; and especially for a successful attack upon an enemy submarine on 16 June 1917.