The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Bronze Star Medal to Lieutenant John H. Michels, United States Coast Guard, for meritorious achievement while serving as Executive Officer of a U.S. Coast Guard cutter of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet during the summer and fall of 1943. While on an offensive mission against enemy installations known to be in the vicinity, the cutter’s rudder was severely damaged, and the ship immobilized by heavy pack ice. Faced with protracted isolation and the possible danger of the ship’s being crushed by the increasing weight of ice, Lieutenant Michels volunteered to enter the frigid water to effect temporary repairs to the rudder. In spite of heavy pans of ice which floated in the small open lead at the stern, he went over the side on an improvised raft and by working submerged in the 29 degree Fahrenheit water, succeeded in completing a jury rig which permitted the ship to proceed to a port in Iceland, where permanent repairs were completed.