The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Gunner’s Mate Third Class Herman H. Thomas, United States Naval Reserve, for heroic conduct while attached to the LCT 19 during the landings at Salerno in September 1943. When the landing craft sustained severe damage from enemy bombing attacks and it became necessary to abandon ship, Coxswain Harmon C. Steck and Gunner’s Mate Third Class Herman H. Thomas helped keep wounded men afloat until they were rescued.