The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Chief Aviation Operations Technician James D. Maloney, United States Navy, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy while serving on board U.S.S. ESSEX (CVA-9) on the morning of 28 May 1959. When a fighter-type aircraft, upon landing, crashed into several other planes parked abaft the island on the flight deck of ESSEX, resulting in an immediate explosion and intense fire, Chief Aviation Operations Technician Maloney took charge of the situation and, in the face of blazing aircraft fuel, burning magnesium metal, and exploding oxygen containers, skillfully directed the efforts of the fire-fighting personnel in bringing the fire under control.