Executive Officer, U.S.S. Sampson Date Of Action: November 7, 1918 Citation: The Navy Cross is awarded to Lieutenant Robert Webster Cary, U.S. Navy, for extraordinary heroism on 7th of November, 1918, when the depth charges on the stern of the U.S.S. Sampson broke adrift in a heavy gale and were thrown about in such a manner as to involve danger of serious damage to the ship and the possibility of an explosion in case the safety fork of one of the depth charges should work loose. Lieutenant Gary, executive officer of the ship, accompanied by several enlisted men, secured the depth charges, working on the fantail when heavy seas were breaking over it, adding the danger of being washed overboard to that connected with the possible explosion of the depth charges. |