The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Commander Wallace Bertholf, United States Navy, for distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. HARRISBURG, engaged in the important, exacting and hazardous duty of transporting and escorting troops and supplies to European ports through waters infested with enemy submarines and mines, and later as Aide on the Staff of Commander, U. S. Naval Forces in Northern Russia, where in addition to other duties, Commander Bertholf made two visits to the advance Allied positions during which visits he was under artillery fire from the enemy for two days.