The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Shipfitter Second Class Kenneth J. Walz, 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. As Petty Officer in charge of the first fire and rescue party from U.S.S. JOHN HOOD (DD-655), Shipfitter Second Class Walz organized the first hose teams to board CONSTELLATION and commence fire fighting operations. Hoisted to the host and buckled flight deck, he cut holes in the deck with an acetylene torch to permit smoke and steam to escape from the hangar deck and to provide a means of employing fire hoses to fight the fire between the flight and hangar decks. Later, Shipfitter Second Class Walz entered the burning, smoke-filled, and unlighted hull of CONSTELLATION in search of trapped and injured yard workmen. He aided in locating and removing two victims and remained on board for a period of approximately nine hours.