The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Commander [then Lieutenant] Sheldon Hoard Kinney, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the Destroyer Escort U.S.S. BRONSTEIN (DE-189), in action against enemy forces on the night of 29 February – 1 March 1944, in the Atlantic. Detecting the swift and unopposed approach of U-441 toward the vulnerable forces of his search group, Commander Kinney speedily maneuvered for a daring short-range attack and, skillfully directing his gunfire, scored hits on the conning tower, causing the enemy submarine to halt its approach and to submerge. After avoiding two torpedoes launched against his vessel, Commander Kinney proceeded to conduct an underwater weapons attack which inflicted extensive damage upon the U-boat and forced its return to a repair base. Subsequently, he encountered U-709 by sonar and succeeded in sinking this submarine with the assistance of two other vessels. In the final action of the night, he detected U-603 which was in a position favorable to the firing of torpedoes at a friendly aircraft carrier. Immediately launching a formidable attack with depth bombs, he forced the U-boat to defensive action, regained contact after the initial onslaught and pressed home strikes to sink the submarine despite temporary disablement of his vessel by the explosion of an acoustic torpedo in the wake. By his outstanding professional skill, courage and determined efforts throughout a four and one-half hour period, Commander Kinney was directly instrumental in saving three friendly vessels from probable torpedoing, in destroying two enemy submarines and in seriously damaging a third. His actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.