The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Ordinary Seaman Apprentice John F. Auer, United States Navy, for gallant and heroic conduct while serving on board the U.S.S. Lancaster, Marseille, France, 20 November 1883. Jumping overboard, Ordinary Seaman Apprentice Auer rescued from drowning a French lad who had fallen into the sea from a stone pier astern of the ship.