The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Distinguished Service Medal to Ensign Henry M. Robinson, United States Navy (Reserve Force), for extraordinary heroism on 11 January 1918, when with the rate of Machinist’s Mate First Class, he was acting as Chief Engineer on the U.S.S. C-121. On that date, as a result of a back-fire from one of the engines, fire spread to an open can of gasoline. Machinist’s Mate First Class Robinson, finding that he could not extinguish the fire, attempted to carry the burning can on deck. To do this it was necessary to climb a vertical ladder. In climbing this, he tripped and spilt burning gasoline on his clothing, in spite of which he persisted in his efforts, and succeeded in getting the can to the deck, where it could do no further harm. Being then a mass of flames, he jumped overboard into the river, which was filled with ice. He was picked up and taken to the Naval Hospital where he remained for six weeks.