The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Lieutenant (MC) Demerle E. Eckart, United States Navy, for heroic conduct while serving as a Medical Officer aboard the U.S.S. HENLEY (DD-391) on 3 October 1943. Covered with fuel oil when sunk by a Japanese torpedo, Lieutenant Eckart labored tirelessly aboard overcrowded life rafts to render first aid to survivors. He provided invaluable assistance to the medical officer of the rescue ship after he himself was picked up after eight hours in the water.