The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Lieutenant Colonel (Medical Corps) Charles V. Snurkowski, United States Army, for heroism involving voluntary risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy, in swimming to the assistance of an officer who had been caught in a dangerous undertow and was about to go under. When Lieutenant Colonel Snurkowski had brought the officer almost to the beach, both were swept back to the sea by an enormous wave which dragged them under the water and then threw them against a jagged rock. Lieutenant Colonel Snurkowski nevertheless succeeded in pulling the Naval Officer and himself up on the rock in a relatively safe position and managed to hold on until help came.