The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Distinguished Service Medal to Commander William Tipton Conn, Jr., United States Navy, for distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. ALCEDO, engaged in the important, exacting and hazardous duty of patrolling the waters infested with enemy submarines and mines. Particularly on 5 November 1917, when the ALCEDO was struck by an enemy submarine and was lost, for his conduct which was in keeping with the best traditions of the Service.