The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Commander Harley Francis Cope, United States Navy, for distinguished service in line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the Navy Fleet Oiler U.S.S. SALINAS (AO-19), in handling his ship and crew, when that vessel was torpedoed on 30 October 1941, and in bringing his ship safely to port, under most difficult circumstances, after it had sustained severe damage in an engagement with an enemy submarine.