The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Seaman Second Class Edward J. Stewart, United States Navy, for heroism involving voluntary risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy, on 4 – 6 June 1942, during the Battle of Midway. When an officer of the Marine Corps bailed out of his burning plane and parachuted into a lagoon, Seaman Second Class Stewart swam from his boat to a coral reef and, despite the breaking of high surf on its jagged peaks, succeeded in removing the burned and shocked man to a point of safety.