The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Lieutenant John G. Groves, United States Navy, for heroism following an emergency landing of his aircraft at the Naval Air Station, Argentia, Newfoundland, near midnight on 2 April 1959. Immediately after landing, the aircraft began to disintegrate and came to rest in an inverted position as intense fires broke out in major segments. With the pilot’s window as the only means of escape for members of the crew forward of the galley, Lieutenant Groves, acting as First Co-Pilot, was assisted through this window by his Pilot Plane Commander. Lieutenant Groves aided in the removal of the Flight Engineer, and although forced to leave the vicinity of the pilot’s window because of the intense heat, returned to assist a crew member through the window, seconds before the entire aircraft exploded.