Frank Robert McCrary, United States Navy: The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Commander Frank Robert McCrary for distinguished and heroic service as Commanding Officer of a U.S. Naval Aviation Detachment in Ireland, during World War I.

McCrary was born on 1 October 1879 in Arkansas and graduated from the U.S.Naval Academy – Class of 1901. He was the Navy’s first lighter than air pilot and was the first Commanding Officer of the SHENANDOAH dirigible. He retired from the Navy in 1936 with the rank of Captain and was recalled to active duty in 1940 as commander of the Alameda Naval Air Station, CA. He died on 10 June 1952 in Alameda County, CA. His enrollment in the Legion of Valor was the result of research accomplished by Adam Lewis, historian for the Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation in Santa Barbara, CA.