The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Hospital Corpsman Third Class Larry L. Sayrs, United States Navy, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy in rescuing a fellow serviceman from a crashed and burning helicopter in a mountain area approximately 15 miles west of Bridgeport, California, on 26 October 1957. When the helicopter in which he was riding crashed and burst into flames, Hospital Corpsman Third Class Sayrs, along with the pilot, co-pilot and a crewman, quickly escaped from the wreckage and started to flee from the scene. After hearing cries for help coming from the burning aircraft, he immediately returned with the crewman, climbed into the flaming wreckage and rescued another passenger who was trapped in the cabin of the plane.