Ray Eastman

The Navy Cross is awarded to Water Tender Ray Eastman, U.S. Navy, for distinguished service and devotion to duty while serving on the U.S.S. Mount Vernon, when that vessel was torpedoed on September 5, 1918. Watertender Eastman was in a fireroom, and handled his men with coolness when water had gone out of sight in the boilers, lights extinguished and communications broken. His bearing and conduct set an example which was an important factor in maintaining discipline and contributed to the saving of the ship.