The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Staff Sergeant Jerod P. Murphy, United States Marine Corps, for heroism while serving as the Section Leader of two Amphibious Assault Vehicles assigned to Third Platoon, Alpha Company, Fourth Assault Amphibian Battalion in support of Hurricane KATRINA disaster relief operations, on 29 and 30 August 2005. Immediately after the eye of the hurricane passed over Biloxi, Mississippi, Staff Sergeant Murphy bravely led his team of seven Marines through 100 mph winds on a mission to rescue and evacuate victims trapped by the force of the storm. In spite of tremendous amounts of debris, numerous natural gas leaks, and four to eight foot tidal surges, Staff Sergeant Murphy and his section continually operated through the category four hurricane, will into the night. They rescued approximately 130 civilians and transported each person through hazardous conditions to the evacuation point to receive follow-on medical attention. The following day, Staff Sergeant Murphy led his Marines on a rescue mission in the Henderson Point area, which was inaccessible by civilian rescue vehicles. Staff Sergeant Murphy’s actions that day resulted in the rescuing of 72 civilians, two of whom had been critically injured during the hurricane and were in need of urgent medical care. Staff Sergeant Murphy’s courageous actions in the face of extreme adversity and life threatening conditions prevented the loss of numerous lives, thereby reflecting great credit upon him and upholding the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.