The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Chief Gunner’s Mate Robert James Biel, United States Navy, for distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commander of the Armed Guard of the U.S.S. ORION, and in encounters with enemy submarines. On 7 August 1917, an enemy submarine was sighted, which appeared and disappeared several times. Each time it appeared, fire was opened on it, and it finally disappeared in a rain squall. On 17 September 1917 sighted an enemy submarine, which launched a torpedo, missing the ship. Ship opened fire on the submarine, which disappeared. On September 27th, sighted a submarine, and fired three shots, no further action.