The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Ensign Ben Sparks, Jr., United States Naval Reserve, for heroism involving voluntary risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy, in rescuing a Naval Reserve officer who landed in the water after parachuting from a plane which was involved in a mid-air collision. Immediately upon observing the crash, Ensign Sparks landed on the water as close as possible to the most seriously endangered man, whose life jacket was torn and useless and who had become badly entangled in the shrouds of his parachute. After crawling down on top of the float and pulling the exhausted officer to safety, Ensign Sparks removed his outer clothing and dived repeatedly in the attempt to rescue another victim of the same crash, continuing tirelessly in his efforts until almost overcome by the fumes of gasoline accumulated on the surface of the water.