The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Distinguished Service Medal to Commander Halsey Powell, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious service in a duty of great responsibility as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. PARKER, 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 an attack upon an enemy submarine on 3 August 1917, as a result of which the submarine is believed to have been seriously damaged.