The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Corporal Brian Lawrence Bontjes, United States Marine Corps, for heroism while serving at Marine Corps Air Station, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, on 10 June 1976. Arriving at the beach by Pyramid Rock to go body surfing, Corporal Bontjes and three other Marines heard a woman crying that her husband and son-in-law were drowning. Corporal Bontjes, with complete disregard for his own safety and fully aware of the personal dangers involved, unhesitatingly plunged into the turbulent surf and assisted in the rescue of the woman’s husband. Then seeing a fellow Marine in more serious trouble, Corporal Bontjes went to his aid and assisted another Marine in bringing the man to shore. By his courageous and prompt actions in the face of great personal risks, Corporal Bontjes was instrumental in effecting the rescues of the two endangered men; thereby reflecting great credit upon himself and upholding the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.