The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Chief Master at Arms William A. Kane, United States Navy, for distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commander of the Armed Guard of the S.S. Wico, and in an engagement with an enemy submarine. On 23 June 1917, an enemy submarine was sighted and one shot fired at it, landing close to the submarine, which then disappeared. At this time, the Commander of the Armed Guard used drastic action to prevent the merchant crew from abandoning the ship.