The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Louis Verbrugge, United States Navy, for gallantry in action on 7 May 1942 as Engineering Officer of the U.S.S. NEOSHO (AO-23). Despite difficult conditions aboard his ship because of severe aerial attacks by the Japanese, and with the ship in imminent danger of capsizing, he remained in the engineering spaces until assured it was impossible to restore power.
The engine room was flooded with fuel oil as a result of a bomb explosion. He remained at his station endeavoring to continue operation of the main engines, with the engine room untenable due to smoke from the fire in the bunker fuel oil tank. When, as a result of a bomb explosion in the fireroom shortly afterward, all power was lost, he proceeded to make a thorough inspection of the engineering spaces as far as possible to determine the extent of the damage sustained, despite the fact that he knew the ship was in danger of capsizing. In the days subsequent to the attack he displayed outstanding leadership, courage, initiative, and ingenuity in overcoming obstacles in connection with the hoisting out of the port motor launch from its skids, and down the port side. The ship was without power and listing heavily to starboard. It was impossible to launch boats on the starboard side as the seas were breaking heavily and the deck was submerged. He was an inspiration to the personnel working with him on this difficult task. The proposed departure from the ship would have been impossible if this boat had not been available. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service.