The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Lieutenant Preston Hoggard, United States Navy, for heroic conduct when a gasoline lead in the steering gear compartment caused a serious explosion aboard his cruiser on 7 October 1943. Lieutenant Hoggard risked his life to enter the fume-filled compartment and took measures to extinguish the blaze before the flames could reach 10,000 gallons of gasoline stored near the explosion area. His daring initiative helped prevent further detonations and probably saved many lives.