Ashton Bernard Smith

The Navy Cross is presented to Ashton Bernard Smith, Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Navy, for extraordinary heroism, as executive officer of the U.S.S. Salinas, in operating the carbon dioxide fire extinguishing system after the first torpedo struck the ship, and, after being injured by the explosion of the second torpedo, in giving the necessary orders to the crew of that vessel to keep her afloat and at the same time open fire on the attacking submarine.