The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Signalman Third Class Ralph Gardner (NSN: 3216040), United States Naval Reserve, for distinguished heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy, as members of the Armed Guard on board a merchant vessel during its torpedoing and sinking by an enemy submarine. Under extremely difficult conditions, Signalman Third Class Gardner devoted tireless and courageous efforts toward the rescue of survivors, and aided in recovering eight men from floating wreckage and surrounding water and four from a drifting raft.