The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal (Posthumously) to Seaman James Lawrence Blaskis (NSN: 9999038), United States Navy, for heroism on 29 July 1967, while serving aboard U.S.S. FORRESTAL (CVA-59), in the Gulf of Tonkin. Seaman Blaskis was manning the port steering area in the extreme port quarter of the ship when fire broke out on the flight deck causing several explosions. One of the initial explosions hurled shrapnel into the port compartment, killing one man and seriously wounding Seaman Blaskis and his other shipmate. Despite his wounds, he administered first aid to his companion until he succumbed to his own wounds.