The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Coast Guard Medal to Machinery Technician Third Class Stanley E. Hayward, United States Coast Guard, for heroism on 12 October 1996 while serving as crewman aboard the U.S. Coast Guard Utility Boat (UTB) 21550. The crew of UTB 21550 was on harbor safety patrol near the McKellar Lake area of the Mississippi River, Memphis Tennessee Harbor, when they witnessed a vessel capsize. The seven occupants of the vessel were fishing when the boat was swamped by a 6-foot wave caused by a passing towboat and barge. The UTB immediately diverted to the capsized vessel and spotted five of the victims clinging to the hull of the vessel, screaming that two small children hadn’t surfaced. Petty Officer Hayward immediately entered the water and swam through fuel oil, fishing line, and flotsam to the overturned boat. He dove under the vessel, fought his way through the debris to the air pocket, and found the two small children. Freeing the first child from entangling lines and wires, Petty Officer Hayward brought the young victim to the surface. He immediately dove back under the boat and retrieved the second trapped victim. Petty Officer Hayward braved the strong river current and cold murky water and returned to the overturned vessel with a heaving line and life ring to aid the five adult victims, near panic and unable to swim. Petty Officer Hayward demonstrated remarkable initiative, exceptional fortitude, and daring in spite of imminent personal danger in this rescue. His courage and devotion to duty are most heartily commended and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Coast Guard.