The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Commander Lamar Richard Leahy, United States Navy, for distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. NOMA in an encounter with an enemy submarine on the night of the 28th of November, 1917, in which the submarine was driven off and the convoy of storeships under escort of the Noma saved from damage and possible destruction.