The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Chief Fire Controlman Clarence Upton Benton (NSN: 3857627), United States Navy, for heroism following the sinking of his ship, the U.S.S. INDIANAPOLIS (CA-35), by enemy action three hundred miles north of the Palau Islands on 30 July 1945. During the following four days and five nights, despite agonizing pain from his own injuries, he aided the senior officer of a group of one hundred fifty survivors, who had little food, no water and only three life rafts, by speaking to the half-crazed men in a calm, reassuring voice, thereby reducing the number of men lost by fighting, swimming away and drowning. His outstanding leadership and heroic conduct, performed in the face of great danger to himself, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.