E. Artimas Chastain

The Navy Cross is awarded to Chief Carpenter’s Mate E. Artimas Chastain, U.S. Navy, for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving on the U.S.S. Nokomis. On the night of January 11, 1918, while that vessel was at sea a wave broke over the stern, smashing the depth bomb launching device. The bomb was hurled on board and the bomb float which was detached started forward in the wash water. Chastain threw himself down on the float holding it and remaining buried in water until assistance reached him, when the bomb was secured, this preventing the bomb from firing and detonating the other bombs.