The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Chief Boatswain’s Mate Joseph L. Crouch, United States Navy, for distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commander of the Armed Guard of the S.S. KERMANSHAW, and in an encounter with an enemy submarine. On 30 July 1918, a torpedo was sighted, but through quick maneuvering, it missed the ship. Ten minutes later a second torpedo was sighted. The ship again maneuvered and it missed. The ship opened fire, one shot, and the submarine disappeared. Later the submarine came to the surface at a distance, and fire again was opened on it, when the submarine disappeared.