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General Orders: All Hands (April 1954)
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Aviation Ordnanceman Third Class Richard J. Abbott (NSN: 2355364), United States Navy, for meritorious achievement as ordnance safety observer while attached to Fighting Squadron Eight Hundred Twenty-One (VF-812), on board the U.S.S. Essex (CVA-9), during operations in the Korean area on 14 December 1952. During the early catapult launch of jet aircraft a 100-pound general purpose bomb was released and fell to the deck from the port outboard (number one) station of an F9F-2, due to complete malfunction of the Mark 55 Mod 1 rack. The arming wires remained with the aircraft which allowed the wind over the deck, and jet blast to spin the vanes arming the tail fuse and possibly arming the nose fuse. Ordnanceman Abbott without hesitation and without regard for his own personal safety immediately ran to the bomb and with the help of two of his shipmates carried the armed bomb to the disposal chute. He personally withdrew and disposed of the partially armed nose fuse. The daring and courageous conduct shown by Ordnanceman Abbott without regard for his own personal safety protected his ship from possible heavy damage and safeguarded the lives of many pilots and crewmen within the immediate vicinity of the bomb. His determined vigilance and steadfast devotion to his duty contributed materially to the efforts of the United Nations Forces against the enemy and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Master Sergeant Joseph V. Agro (MCSN: 262211), United States Marine Corps, for heroism in rescuing an injured pilot from an overturned, gasoline-drenched aircraft and averting a major disaster from possible fire aboard the U.S.S. Badoeng Strait (DVE-116), on 30 October 1952. Master Sergeant Agro was at his assigned deck station aboard the carrier when a landing Corsair aircraft crashed into the barrier, flipped over violently and trapped the injured pilot in the crushed cockpit. At considerable risk to his own life, Master Sergeant Agro rushed to the damaged aircraft which was becoming drenched with gasoline from broken fuel lines and was in immanent danger of being engulfed in flames since the battery and radio switches were in the "On" position. Directing the crash crew to raise the tail of the broken aircraft, he quickly and methodically released and removed the injured pilot, turning him over to medical personnel. Then waving others to safety, he immediately squirmed through the aperture where the engine had broken away from the fuselage. With exceptional initiative, he plugged broken fuel lines with wooden pencils, successfully halting the flow of gasoline, and disconnected the battery. The heroic actions of Master Sergeant Agro saved the pilot from a profuse loss of blood and averted a costly fire. His courageous conduct, exceptional initiative and steadfast devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
General Orders: Commanding Officer, Naval Supply Depot Guantanamo Bay, Cuba: Serial 3772
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Seaman Albert A. Aleman (NSN: 5771521), United States Navy, for outstanding courage during a fire which occurred on 9 June 1951 on the surface of the water in the vicinity of Wharf B and Pier C at the United States Naval Operating Base, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Seaman Aleman did, with utter disregard for his own personal safety, enter the flame-covered water to save another person in the naval service, who, being severely burned, was calling for help. While in the water, and after accomplishing the rescue, he called for a fire hose and extinguished flames underneath Pier O to which a YOG that had been receiving high test aviation gasoline was moored and thus, the danger to his own personal safety was further enhanced. His courage, daring, and initiative were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Ask, Clifford W.
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Aviation Electrician's Mate Second Class Clifford W. Ask (NSN: 3252956), United States Navy, for personal heroism during an electrical malfunction aboard the U.S.S. Princeton (CV-37) at Yokosuka, Japan, on 11 August 1952. While engaged in his duties as an aviation electrician's mate of Attack Squadron One Hundred Ninety-Five (VA-195), Aviation Electrician's Mate Second Class Ask suddenly sighted brilliant flashes and sparks on the hangar deck twenty feet away. Without hesitation and with complete disregard for his own personal safety he rushed to the scene of the electrical fire and rescued a dazed and apparently paralyzed man from the blinding and perilous flames of a spitting 440 volt power receptacle thereby preventing what may have been a fatal accident. The stunned victim was led to sick bay for treatment of second degree burns before Aviation Electrician's Mate Second Class Ask quietly resumed his duties. The immediate action and courageous conduct displayed by Aviation Electrician's Mate Second Class ask were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.