Joseph L. Crouch

The Navy Cross is awarded to Chief Boatswain’s Mate Joseph L. Crouch, U.S. Navy, for distinguished service in the line of his profession as commander of the Armed Guard of the S.S. Kermanshah, and in an encounter with an enemy submarine. On July 30, 1918, a torpedo was sighted, but through quick maneuvering, it missed the ship. Ten minutes later a second torpedo was sighted. The ship again maneuvered and it missed. The ship opened fire, one shot, and the submarine disappeared. Later the submarine came to the surface at a distance, and fire again was opened on it, when the submarine disappeared.