The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Gunner’s Mate Second Class Joseph Tezanos, United States Coast Guard, for distinguished heroism while serving as a volunteer member of a boat crew engaged in rescue operations during a fire in Pearl Harbor, Oahu, Territory of Hawaii, on 21 May 1944. Under conditions of great personal danger from fire and explosions and with disregard of his own safety he assisted in the rescuing of approximately 42 survivors some of whom were injured and exhausted from the water and from burning ships.