The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Machinist James H. Cody, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism on the occasion of the collision of the U.S.S. SHAW with H.M.S. AQUITANIA on 9 October 1918. Machinist Cody, although not on watch, went to the engine room immediately and took charge, remaining there and directing operations of the entire engineering department, although realizing that there was imminent danger of an explosion on deck which might completely destroy the ship.