The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Chief Hospitalman James Richard Coleman (NSN: 4833847), United States Navy, for heroism while serving on board U.S.S. CLAUDE V. RICKETTS (DDG-5) following the collision of U.S.S. BELKNAP (CG-26) and U.S.S. JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV-67) in the Ionian Sea on 22 and 23 November 1975. While RICKETTS was engaged in rescue operations and fire fighting assistance to BELKNAP, Chief Petty Officer Coleman, after initially organizing RICKETTS’ first aid stations, was transferred to BELKNAP via motor whaleboat. With fires still raging uncontrolled, he climbed the cargo net on the cruiser’s bow and immediately began treating injured personnel. Acting with complete disregard for his own personal safety, Chief Petty Officer Coleman remained through the worst of the fires, leaving only when the last casualties were evacuated. Returning aboard RICKETTS, he further treated the casualties and then personally supervised their transfer to the designated medical evacuation ship, U.S.S. DALE (CG-19). Chief Petty Officer Coleman’s professional expertise, bold courage, and selfless devotion to duty in the face of great personal risk undoubtedly saved the lives of several BELKNAP crewmembers; thereby reflecting great credit upon himself and upholding the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.