The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Fire Control Technician First Class Curtis K. Cross, United States Navy, for heroic conduct on 20 April 1960 while serving on board U.S.S. TOPEKA (CLG-8). As Petty Officer in Charge of a detail of ship’s force personnel assigned to lower the boresight and collimation tower of the TOPEKA’s missile guidance radars, Fire Control Technician First Class Cross was in the container with three shipmates when the guy wires to the tower were released and the tower fell. In order to allow his men to escape certain injury or possible death, he chose to remain in the container in an effort to reduce the rate of the fall of the tower with his back. Fire Control Technician First Class Cross sustained severe injuries while carrying out this daring act.