The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Lieutenant Richard Lyman Abbott (NSN: 0-185775), United States Navy, for heroism in attempting to rescue two unconscious enlisted men who had descended into a below deck compartment on 29 June 1945 and had immediately collapsed. He, upon learning of the incident, promptly descended into the compartment to rescue the two men, one of whom was in his division. With disregard of his own safety he voluntarily and courageously attempted to extricate the men to save their lives, in the process of which he was overcome before completing his mission. His heroic conduct in the face of great known personal danger was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.