The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Carpenter Harold A. Isbell (NSN: 0-202700), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Carpenter while serving on board the Heavy Cruiser U.S.S. SAN FRANCISCO (CA-38), during an engagement with Japanese naval forces near Savo Island in the Solomons on the night of on 12 and 13 November 1942. With complete disregard for his personal safety and although suffering from a very severe neck wound, he continued to fight fires and assist the control of flooding without the benefit of medical attention until he collapsed from loss of blood. His great courage, fortitude and heroic conduct evidenced a devotion to duty far above that normally to be expected.