The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Seaman, Radioman Striker Jerome H. Szczesniewski, Jr., United States Navy, for heroic conduct on 19 December 1960 in connection with fire fighting and rescue operations aboard U.S.S. CONSTELLATION (CVA-64) at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. One of the first persons to board CONSTELLATION after the fire started, Seaman, Radioman Striker Szczesniewski, as a member of the fire and rescue party from U.S.S. JOHN HOOD (DD-655), climbed burning scaffolding to reach the flight deck and hoisted approximately 15 fire-hose sections which were urgently needed to commence fire fighting operations. He later donned a breathing apparatus and descended into the darkened, smoke-filled lower decks of the vessel in search of trapped workers. He aided in locating and escorting four victims to safety and remained on board CONSTELLATION for a period of 13 hours.