The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Pharmacist’s Mate Second Class J. J. Murphy, United States Navy, for heroic conduct on a burning merchant ship in a Brazilian harbor during World War II. Pharmacist’s Mate Second Class Murphy boarded the blazing ship in the face of danger from gasoline explosions, assisted in fighting the fire, and cast off the mooring lines so that the vessel could be towed away and would not endanger a U.S. Warship, shore establishments, and other ships.