The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Aviation Structural Mechanic Third Class John B. Kemp, United States Navy, for heroism in rescuing three persons from drowning in waters off Seal Beach, California, on the afternoon of 13 June 1959. Chancing upon three men hanging onto the sides of a swamped and capsized fourteen-foot open outboard while he was en route to sore with two others in a cabin cruiser, Kemp died into the treacherous waters and despite waves running five feet in height, succeeded in carrying a line to the overturned craft which was tossing within thirty feet of a rock jetty. While the cruiser was attempting to tow the capsized boat away from the rocks, Kemp aided the three exhausted survivors in remaining afloat. After approximately fifteen minutes, one of the victims was lifted aboard a second cruiser which was standing by in the area. Kemp remained in the water with the other survivors until their rescue was completed.