The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Ensign Russell Million Ihrig, United States Navy (Reserve Force), for distinguished and heroic conduct as an officer of the U.S.S. McCALL upon the occasion of the sinking of the British steamship MISSANABIE on 9 September 1918. The McCall, having gone to the assistance of the wrecked MISSANABIE, it became necessary to lower a small boat in a rough sea for the rescue of the passengers. Ensign Ihrig requested and received permission to take charge of this boat, and with a volunteer crew, under extremely difficult and dangerous conditions, succeeded in rescuing from the sea a number of survivors of the MISSANABIE, who but for such assistance so unselfishly and promptly given, must have drowned.