The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal (Posthumously) to Aviation Radioman First Class Everett Hardin Almond (NSN: 3563103), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and sacrifice while participating in an aerial flight from an advanced base as a member of a Navy Scouting Squadron. When the plane in which he was flying as Aviation Radioman First Class was forced down in the open sea, he, although stunned by the crash, managed to extricate the unconscious pilot from the cockpit. In the limited time before the plane sank, he succeeded in fastening a life jacket around the unconscious pilot whom he then lashed to himself and tended and succored until he regained consciousness. By so doing he forfeited every chance to extract and inflate a life raft in which he might have ridden to safety. By so doing he deliberately chose to expose himself to peril from sharks well knowing that in his own case this peril was particularly grave, due to bleeding from wounds received from the crash. Further, when attacked by sharks, he attempted to give up his own life jacket and separate himself from the pilot in order that the later might have a better chance of survival. He died in pain and agony from the repeated attacks of sharks, literally giving his life that another might live. His unselfish and heroic action was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.