The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Fireman First Class Joe E. Howell, United States Navy, for heroism involving voluntary risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy, in swimming out and rescuing survivors off enemy-occupied territory despite the fact that his ship might have been forced to steam away and leave him in the shark-infested waters. Fireman First Class Howell swam out as far as 100 yards on four occasions to get the men who were too exhausted to reach the ship.