The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Seaman First Class Robert Eugene Burns (NSN: 6275915), United States Naval Reserve, for heroic conduct in the rescue of a drowning Marine at Agana Bay, Guam, Mariana Islands, on 11 February 1945. Observing the struggles of a Marine who had taken to the sea when his craft was swamped, and who repeatedly failed to reach the safety of the beach due to a strong and treacherous undertow, Seaman First Class Burns, at great risk of personal safety, with the assistance of a fellow enlisted man of the Naval service, succeeded in bringing the exhausted man safely ashore. His unselfish and courageous action, over and above the call of duty was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.