The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Coxswain Charles Flink, United States Navy, for distinguished service in the line of his profession while serving as member of the Armed Guard of the S.S. Lake Owens. When that vessel was torpedoed on 3 September 1918, in the night, the commander of the guard was injured and rendered unconscious in his stateroom. Coxswain Flink took charge and manned the guns, but the submarine could not be seen. The merchant crew abandoned the ship, which was sinking rapidly. Coxswain Flink then carried the unconscious commander to the boats, the main deck then being awash.