The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Boatswain’s Mate Second Class Robert Lee Rheindt, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving on board the Destroyer U.S.S. McFARLAND (DD-237), in action against the enemy when his vessel was attacked by nine enemy dive bombers while unloading cargo and embarking wounded personnel in Lunga Roads, Guadalcanal, on 16 October 1942. When enemy bombers dove at our vessels loaded with gasoline and explosives, Boatswain’s Mate Second Class Rheindt, standing by in a landing boat, saw a bomb hit a barge carrying aviation gasoline, which immediately burst into flames. Observing men covered with blazing oil, he unhesitatingly maneuvered his boat through smoke and flames near the furiously burning barge and rescued six men before the intense heat and spread of the flames drove him off. On 16 October, McFarland was unloading cargo and embarking wounded personnel in Lunga Roads when she was attacked by nine dive bombers. While the first seven scored no hits, the eighth hit a gasoline barge in tow alongside the tender’s starboard quarter. The blazing barge was cut loose as the ninth plane made its run.