The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant, Junior Grade Theodore Leo Jermann, United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism, as Engineer Officer of the Navy Fleet Oiler U.S.S. SALINAS (AO-19), in inspecting the engineering spaces after the first torpedo struck the ship on 30 October 1941, and in securing overboard valves and ruptured lines when the second torpedo struck and the ship opened fire on the attacking submarine. His coolness and courage in taking that action, under the circumstances described, contributed materially in making it possible for the SALINAS to reach port under her own power.