The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Watertender Edward Michael McCanna, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism on the occasion of the collision of the U.S.S. SHAW with the H.M.S. AQUITANIA when the Shaw was cut in two and set on fire. Watertender McCanna refused to leave his post in the fireroom although the water was rising rapidly and he had reason to believe that the ship was sinking.