The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Electronics Technician Third Class Michael R. Judd, United States Navy, for heroic conduct on the night of 16 April 1962 while serving on board U.S.S. PORTERFIELD (DD-682), which was then engaged in plane guard operations for U.S.S. BON HOMME RICHARD (CVA-31) off the west coast of the United States. When a man was lost overboard from BON HOMME RICHARD at approximately midnight, Electronics Technician Third Class Judd, partially dressed in a skin-diver’s suit, leaped into the frigid, treacherous waters and swam a distance of over 200 yards to reach and bring to the surface the exhausted victim. Keeping the man afloat until the rescue boat arrived, Electronics Technician Third Class Judd, by his outstanding skill, courage and perseverance, was directly responsible for saving the life of a fellow serviceman.