The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Coxswain Claus Kristian Randolph Clausen, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and uncommon valor in action in connection with the sinking of the U.S.S. Merrimac at the entrance to the harbor of Santiago de Cuba, 2 June 1898. Despite heavy fire from the Spanish batteries, Coxswain Clausen displayed extraordinary heroism throughout this operation.