The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Sergeant James M. Goethe, United States Marine Corps, for heroism while serving as a Skills Instructor at Field Training Unit, Recruit Training Regiment, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, on 19 October 1985. Sergeant Goethe was conducting a hand grenade throwing exercise when a recruit entered the throwing pit, armed and attempted to throw his fragmentation grenade as directed. Although Sergeant Goethe saw the grenade strike the forward wall and come to rest inside the pit, the recruit unwittingly moved to assume the prescribed post-throwing kneeling position. Without hesitation, Sergeant Goethe stepped between the recruit and the grenade while attempting to push him to safety. When the recruit panicked and began to struggle, he bodily lived the recruit to carry him to safety. Losing his balance at the pit entrance dur to the recruit’s struggling, Sergeant Goethe fell, yet managed to shove the recruit forward, moving their still exposed legs out of the pit. Sergeant Goethe was still shielding and moving the recruit when the grenade detonated, covering them with debris. Immediately after the explosion, he checked the recruit for wounds and only after he was satisfied the recruit was unharmed did he allow himself to be checked. Sergeant Goethe’s decisive and unselfish action in the face of great personal risk saved the recruit from the fragmentation grenade’s shrapnel. By his unfailing courage and determination, Sergeant Goethe risked his life to save another; thereby reflecting great credit upon himself and upholding the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.