The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Captain Oscar William Koester, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious service in a duty of great responsibility as Assistant to the Bureau of Steam Engineering, having under his immediate direction much of the tremendously expanded business of the bureau and specifically the supervision of repairs to the machinery of German ships during World War I. In addition to the above Captain Koester had charge of extensive works of construction and expansion of supply plants to adapt them for naval use, and was in charge of the bureau organization for taking over all merchant ships, patrol vessels, etc. and for the equipment thereof.