The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Fireman William D. Bailey, United States Navy, for heroic conduct in rescuing a man form drowning in Hampton River, Hampton, Virginia, on the night of 3 November 1960. Witnessing the 35-foot plunge of an automobile which crashed through a guard rail on the high-level Hampton Roads Tunnel approach bridge and fell into the river below, Fireman Bailey, who was on his way home to Newport News, immediately stopped his car and leaped from the bridge into the darkened waters. Swimming to the victim, he managed to keep the man’s head above water until a rescue squad arrived. Through his prompt and courageous actions in an emergency, Fireman Bailey was directly responsible for saving a life.