The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Watertender Archie Moore Bickford, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving on the U.S.S. COVINGTON on the occasion of the torpedoing of that vessel on 1 July 1918. Though at the time, in water up to his waist, and at the foot of the only escape ladder from the fire room, Watertender Bickford attempted to reach the safety valves of his boilers in order to remove the menace of their explosion.