The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant, Junior Grade Joseph Feeney, United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commander of the Armed Guard Crew aboard the tanker S.S. Cities Service Missouri, when that ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Caribbean Sea on the night of 12 March 1943. Proceeding aft to take his station with the gun crew after the first torpedo had struck the vessel, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Feeney was suddenly hurled into the air by the force of a second torpedo hit and was severely injured. Despite the incapacitating effect of this injury, and with heroic courage, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Feeney dragged himself to the bridge, where he manned the phones to the battery and continued directing the fire of the gun until the crew reported that the ammunition had been rendered ineffectual by water, and the order to abandon ship was given. His conduct throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Navy of the United States. He gallantly gave his life for his country.