The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Lieutenant Allen E. Erwin, United States Navy, for heroic conduct while attached to the U.S.S. HOPI during the invasion of Italy in 1944. Lieutenant Erwin boarded a flaming merchant ship abandoned by her crew and directed the fighting of the fires. Realizing that the blaze could not be controlled he assisted two injured crew members to safety.