The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Torpedoman’s Mate Second Class Bernard Adam Quirin, United States Navy, for risking his life to remain on board the sinking U.S.S. STURTEVANT (DD-240) on 26 April 1942 in order to set all depth charges on “safe” after realizing that, since all communications had been cut off between the bridge and the after part of the ship, he would not receive the word to abandon ship and that he was faced with the possibility of further explosions. Since the STURTEVANT was going down in shallow water an the charges were set for a shallow barrage, his gallant action was instrumental in preventing great loss of life to men on rafts and swimming in the vicinity.