The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Chief Quartermaster Charley Francis Martin, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in Command of the Armed Guard on the S.S. Atlantic Sun on 18 March 1918. Very prompt action was taken by Chief Quartermaster Martin and the men under his command when this vessel was torpedoed amidships. It appears that the guns were used as long as they could be until the list of the ship interfered with them so that they became useless. The vessel sank rapidly, and the Armed Guard commander was last to leave the ship.