The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Chief Machinist’s Mate Warren Bennett (CGSN: 202163), United States Coast Guard, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy. In response to an emergency call, received by Hillsboro Light Station, Pompano, Florida, at 6:25 p.m. on 9 May 1943, Chief Bennett, the Officer-in-Charge, proceeded to Deerfield Beach, Florida, with three men of the station’s crew and Pay Clerk S. P. Rozear, U.C.C.G., a visitor at the station. On arrival at Deerfield Beach, Chief Bennett noted that an easterly wind of force approximately 7, and a No. 7 sea prevailed, which together with a strong and treacherous undertow made conditions hazardous for both swimmers and small boats. It was learned that a soldier, Private First Class Maurice Sadagursky, U.S. Army, stationed at Boca Raton Field, Florida, while in swimming had been caught in the undertow and drowned off shore at that place. An excited crowd of civilians and soldiers were on the beach, however, none seemed to know the exact location of the place where Sadagursky went down. Chief Bennett immediately took charge and ordered all persons to come out of the water and remain on the beach unless ordered to go into the water. One man did not apparently hear the order and another man was sent out to convey the message to him. Both of these men were caught in the undertow and were unable to swim to shore. An eleven-foot dinghy was launched and manned by Chief Bennett for the purpose of going to the assistance of the distressed men. These men hung to the dinghy and assisted headway by using swimming strokes with their feet while Chief Bennett plied the oars. In launching the dinghy Pay Clerk Rozear and a man in sailor’s uniform, were caught in the undertow and forced to hang on to the dinghy in order to keep from being carried to sea, since they were not able to wade nor swim against the undertow. A wave broke over the dinghy and knocked one of the men loose form it. In assisting this man to regain his hold on the dinghy, one of the car lock sockets came adrift and allowed the oar to come out of its lock which caused the dinghy to trough in the sea. At this time a wave broke over the dinghy and completely swamped it. As directed by Chief Bennett, efforts were made to pass the end of a line from shore to the dinghy for the purpose of hauling it in by that method. This proved unsuccessful and the three men, who swam out with the end of the line, found that they could not return to shore against the undertow so in order to save themselves, they also hung on to the dinghy. At this time Lieutenant Bonds was caught in the undertow and crying for help. He could neither swim against the undertow to shore nor swim to the dinghy because of the breaking seas. Chief Bennett dived from the dinghy and went to Lieutenant Bonds’ rescue. He succeeded in getting Lieutenant Bonds to shore however, in so doing came near being drowned himself. After reaching shore Chief Bennett procured a flag halyard from a nearby flag pole and a small mooring buoy from a beach resident’s yard with which the dinghy, under Chief Bennett’s direction, was hauled ashore. As soon as the line had been secured to the dinghy and hauling commenced, Chief Bennett lost consciousness and, in accordance with an Army Doctor’s orders, was taken to the Hospital at Boca Raton Field for treatment. He recovered and was released from the hospital about three hours later.