The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Dental Technician Third Class Peter A. Crescitelli, United States Navy, for heroic conduct on the early morning of 26 March 1961, while serving with Marine Air Base Squadron 26, Marine Aircraft Group 26, MCAF, New River, Jacksonville, North Carolina. Upon learning that one of the homes in the vicinity was on fire, Dental Technician Third Class Crescitelli immediately rushed to the scene and discovered that two small boys were trapped in the blazing structure. Although warned that the roof might collapse at any moment, he entered the house and managed to grope his way through the dense smoke until he located and removed to safety the unconscious form of a six-year-old boy. He then skillfully administered artificial respiration to the victim until normal breathing was restored. By his prompt, skillful, and courageous actions in an emergency Dental Technician Third Class Crescitelli was directly responsible for saving a life.