The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Boatswain’s Mate First Class Thomas H. Aikin, United States Navy, for heroism in connection with operations against the enemy while serving as mount captain of a 20-mm. gun group on board a United States aircraft carrier in Western Pacific waters off Okinawa Jima when his ship was hit by an enemy bomb on 7 April 1945. When his own gun group had been made completely unusable by the fire, he led his men to safety through smoke and flames, which prevented panic among them. Then he proceeded to extinguish a fire in and around a 20-mm. ready service room and after this was accomplished took a hose into another ready service room that was on the verge of exploding. Later, while on the fantail of the ship, he released gasoline drums with his hands, the release lock being stuck, and risked being burned seriously. His conduct was at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.