The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Seaman First Class Arthur P. Clarke, United States Navy, for heroic conduct while attached to the U.S.S. SC-1306 when that vessel collided with another off Cape Lookout, 5 December 1943. Seaman First Class Clarke freed himself form wreckage and despite a minor foot injury, half carried and half pushed an injured comrade through a flooded compartment and eventually got him topside to safety.