The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Boatswain’s Mate Second Class John E. Patterson, United States Navy, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy while serving on board U.S.S. HOLLISTER (DD-788) on 3 January 1959, as Petty Officer in charge of the amidships capstan station. When the target sled wire tow cable came free of the capstan and started whipping through the amidships passageway, Boatswain’s Mate Second Class Patterson immediately pulled two of his shipmates clear of the cable and observed three other men who were still in the passageway and in extreme danger of being killed or seriously injured by the free-running wire cable. Entering the passageway, he succeeded in helping two of the men to safety. While he was assisting the third man to safety, his foot was caught in wire cable and he was severely injured.