The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Seaman First Class Vint Elliott Eden (NSN: 2872349), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession as a member of the 20-mm. gun crew aboard the Light Cruiser U.S.S. BOISE (CL-47), during the operations of United States Naval Forces off Cape Esperance, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on the night of 11 – 12 October 1942. Seaman First Class Eden’s station was on a 20-mm. gun, approximately twenty feet from the Captain’s Cabin. At least two shells and possibly three struck this area. His battery was not in use at the time so he took charge of the fire party and was instrumental in immediately extinguishing the fire in the cabin, with utter disregard for his own safety. He was responsible for the saving of one man’s life by bringing him to the fresh air and giving him artificial respiration. He then made numerous trips to Number Two Turret to fight the fire until he was overcome by exhaustion.