The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Chief Shipfitter Orlin A. Kohl, United States Navy, for heroic conduct on the afternoon of 20 October 1959 while serving on board U.S.S. TRINGA (ASR-16). When Tringa maneuvered to get alongside a one-man life-raft occupied by a downed Air Force pilot, who was lying face downward and entangled in his parachute, the life-raft capsized, tossing the airman into the extremely choppy seas. With the victim’s parachute dragging him beneath the surface, Kohl dived into the water, brought the man to the surface, and began cutting away the parachute. Assisted by a shipmate, he secured a line around the pilot, who was then hoisted to safety by members of the crew.