The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Motor Machinist First Class John Fabris, United States Navy, for distinguished service in the line of his profession and devotion to duty while serving on the U.S.S. C-179, in the engagement at Durazzo, on 2 October 1918. During the whole engagement, Motor Machinist First Class Fabris held in place with his hand a broken trip rod igniter spring, thereby enabling his vessel to maintain speed and position when otherwise she would have been forced out of formation to make repairs.