The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Torpedoman’s Mate First Class Frank LeRoy Knight, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving on board the Destroyer U.S.S. STACK (DD-406), on the occasion of a collision of that vessel with a large aircraft carrier on 17 March 1942, when, as a result of the collision, No. 1 fireroom of the stack was flooded, the lighting circuits put out and the ship was heeled over at a dangerous angle and being carried across the bow of the aircraft carrier. Despite the pending danger of the depth charges being dislodged by further contact with the carrier, Knight made his way aft in the darkened vessel and, wading waist deep, set all the depth charges on safe. His conduct throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Navy of the United States.