The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Aviation Ordnanceman Third Class Richard J. Abbott (NSN: 2355364), United States Navy, for meritorious achievement as ordnance safety observer while attached to Fighting Squadron EIGHT HUNDRED TWENTY-ONE (VF-812), on board the U.S.S. ESSEX (CVA-9), during operations in the Korean area on 14 December 1952. During the early catapult launch of jet aircraft a 100-pound general purpose bomb was released and fell to the deck from the port outboard (number one) station of an F9F-2, due to complete malfunction of the Mark 55 Mod 1 rack. The arming wires remained with the aircraft which allowed the wind over the deck, and jet blast to spin the vanes arming the tail fuse and possibly arming the nose fuse. Ordnanceman Abbott without hesitation and without regard for his own personal safety immediately ran to the bomb and with the help of two of his shipmates carried the armed bomb to the disposal chute. He personally withdrew and disposed of the partially armed nose fuse. The daring and courageous conduct shown by Ordnanceman Abbott without regard for his own personal safety protected his ship from possible heavy damage and safeguarded the lives of many pilots and crewmen within the immediate vicinity of the bomb. His determined vigilance and steadfast devotion to his duty contributed materially to the efforts of the United Nations Forces against the enemy and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.