William Ahlfors

The Navy Cross is awarded to Chief Boatswain’s Mate William Ahlfors, U.S. Navy, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in command of the Armed Guard of the steamship Pathfinder; especially for prompt action when the Pathfinder was missed by a torpedo on September 27, 1917, torpedo passing below the boat. Armed guard opened fire on the periscope, and it is believed that it hit the submarine with the second shot, as the submarine came to surface in the midst of a red cloud of reddish smoke and disappeared.