The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Second Gold Star in lieu of a Third Award of the Navy Cross to Chief Torpedoman Raymond C. Wilson, United States Navy, for distinguished service in the line of his profession in connection with the preliminary stages of the development and testing of the submarine escape device known as the “Lung,” in 1931. With the final apparatus he made many test escapes. During one of these escapes he was stricken with caisson disease, an acute case of brain and stomach bends. Upon being recompressed and cured, he was ready and eager to continue test work. All the tests with preliminary design and tests with final apparatus required extraordinary coolness and courage, necessitating assumption of risks beyond the call in line of duty. The hazards were eagerly accepted by Chief Torpedoman Wilson to the furtherance of this development and his work in this connection contributed greatly to the final perfection of the apparatus.


