The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Machinist’s Mate Second Class Edward F. Munch (NSN: 2125001), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession during an action in which the U.S.S. SIMS (DD-409) was sunk by enemy aircraft in the Coral Sea on 7 May 1942. While the U.S.S. SIMS was sinking, he, without regard for his own safety, remained aboard on the fantail of the ship, which was isolated from the rest of the ship by wreckage, and secured loose depth charges to keep them from rolling overboard and detonating, whereby the ship would certainly have been sunk. His conduct throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.