The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Lance Corporal John A. Onofrey, United States Marine Corps, for heroism while serving with Marine Air Base Squadron TWENTY-FOUR, Marine Aircraft Group TWENTY-FOUR, First Marine Brigade while deployed to the Pacific Missile Range Facility, Barking Sands, Kauai, Hawaii, on 20 January 1979. Upon seeing a man located 25 to 35 yards off shore waving his arms frantically in distress, Lance Corporal Onofrey, with complete disregard for his own safety and fully aware of the personal dangers involved, unhesitatingly swam out to the man despite a combination of rip tides, cross currents, and rough waters. He quickly reached the man in trouble and continually encouraged him to swim toward shore and ride the inbound waves. Noting the man was incapable of swimming any more, Lance Corporal Onofrey grasped the man and, with extreme difficulty, swam slowly to shore. By his courageous and prompt actions in the face of great personal risk, Lance Corporal Onofrey undoubtedly saved the man from drowning; thereby reflecting great credit upon himself and upholding the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.