Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Navy and Marine Corps Medal

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Airman

    Action Date:

    August 15, 1963

    All Hands (April 1964)

    The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Airman Larry D. Sowers, United States Navy, for heroic conduct on the night of 15 August 1963 while serving as a member of the flight deck catapult crew on board U.S.S. SARATOGA (CVA-60) in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Sardinia. When an aircraft landed and crashed into other planes parked abaft the island on the flight deck of SARATOGA during night flight operations, resulting in immediate explosions and intense fires, Airman Sowers repeatedly entered the areas of extreme danger to remove burned or injured personnel to safety. Despite the intensity and fury of burning aircraft, explosions and detonation of live ammunition, he continued in his efforts until he was so severely burned that it was necessary to order him to leave the scene of the fire and obtain medical treatment. Through his outstanding courage and perseverance in the face of extreme personal danger, he was directly instrumental in saving several lives.