The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Electrician First Class Charles Laurence Ausburne, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving on the Army Transport Antilles when that vessel was torpedoed on 17 October 1917. At the emergency wireless stations, Electrician First Class Ausburne sent out distress signals until the vessel went down, thereby losing his life.