Ref: SECNAVINST 1650.1H, Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual

The Navy and Marine Corps Medal is the highest non-combat decoration awarded for heroism by the Department of the Navy to members of the United States Navy and Marine Corps. The decoration was established by an act of Congress on 7 August 1942, and is authorized under Title 10 U.S.C. § 6246.

Citation Example

THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY

WASHINGTON

The President of the United States takes pleasure in
presenting the NAVY AND MARINE CORPS MEDAL to

Richard A. Wolverton

AVIATION MACHINIST'S MATE THIRD CLASS
UNITED STATES NAVAL RESERVE

FOR SERVICE AS SET FORTH IN THE FOLLOWING

CITATION:

"For heroic conduct during launching operations aboard the U.S.S. WASP on August 17th, 1942. When a scout land plane crashed off the bow of the carrier, WOLVERTON, with cool courage and alert presence of mind, unhesitatingly jumped from the hangar deck into the sea and, with the aid of life preservers tossed down to him, was able to keep the injured pilot and his rear gunner afloat until they could be picked up by a life boat from a destroyer. His gallant conduct in saving two lives at the risk of his own was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."

For the President,

Frank Knox
Secretary of the Navy