The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Hospitalman Corpsman Second Class Donovan R. Leavitt, United States Navy, for heroic conduct while serving as Range Corpsman during a flame-thrower firing exercise at Camp Kinser, Okinawa, on 24 February 1960. When a flame thrower developed a malfunction while being fired, causing a billowing of flames a few feet in front of the student operator, Hospitalman Corpsman Second Class Leavitt, who was standing nearby, immediately moved to the side of the gunner, grasped the flaming gun group, and attempted to control the weapon. Although sustaining severe burns, he remained with the gun and controlled the direction of fire until the fuel was expended, thereby preventing serious injury or possible death to other men in the area.