The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Chief Boatswain’s Mate Charles Kersten, United States Navy, for distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commander of the Armed Guard of the S.S. Muskogee, and in an encounter with the enemy submarine. On 21 October 1918, a submarine was sighted approaching at full speed, which opened fire, the shots dropping close to the ship. The ship returned the fire, causing the submarine to open the range. The action lasted about an hour, the ship firing twenty-three rounds, and the submarine then disappeared.