The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Frederick L. Edwards, Jr., United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Boarding Officer on board the Destroyer U.S.S. EBERLE (DD-430), when an enemy blockade runner was intercepted and destroyed on 10 March 1943, in the South Atlantic Ocean. When the EBERLE was ordered to put a boarding party on the hostile ship, Lieutenant Edwards courageously led his party to the runner and was the first to board her. In the face of grave danger from the rapidly spreading fires and explosion of demolition charges, he made an energetic and determined effort to salvage the ship and to obtain information of the enemy. Only after several explosions had rocked the vessel and she began to sink did he dive over the stern into the sea, from which he was later rescued. His conduct throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Navy of the United States.