The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Engineman Second Class Otis B. Ellis, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving on the U. S. Mine Sweeper Patuxent. While sweeping the Northern Barrage on 22 March 1919, a lower level mine exploded directly underneath the ship, the shock of which was so great as to put out all lights in the fireroom and to loosen floor plates and throw them in the air. Engineman Second Class Ellis, with two others, remained bravely at his post and continued the work of keeping up steam in spite of difficulties until broken lights had been replaced.