The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Hospital Corpsman Third Class Jack L. Salts, United States Navy, for heroic conduct on the morning of 15 October 1959 as a member of a rescue party at the Marine Corps Cold Weather Training Center, Bridgeport, California. When a Marine was seriously injured in a fall down an icy mountain slope during combat exercises, Hospital Corpsman Third Class Salts immediately descended over difficult terrain to render medical treatment and assist in evacuation of the victim. While engaged in rendering medical assistance, he observed a large boulder rolling down the side of the mountain and headed directly toward the injured Marine. Without hesitation, Hospital Corpsman Third Class Salts placed his body between his patient and the boulder, receiving the full force of the plunging rock in his chest and abdomen, thereby preventing further injury or possible death to the patient. Although sustaining painful injuries, for which he was hospitalized, Hospital Corpsman Third Class Salts accompanied the rescue party throughout its five hours of difficult rescue work and continued to render medical treatment until his patient was delivered to the dispensary.