The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Fireman Jackie L. Pennington, United States Navy, for heroic conduct during the hours of darkness on the early morning of 7 January 1963, while serving on board U.S.S. CORAL SEA (CVA-43), then berthed at the U.S. Naval Air Station, North Island, San Diego, California. When a man fell from the bow of U.S.S. ORISKANY (CVA-34), also berthed nearby, Fireman Pennington unhesitatingly jumped into icy and contaminated water, swam a distance of approximately 20 yards toward the victim, but was forced to return to the pier because of severe body cramps. Within moments he re-entered the water and swam about 30 yards, at which point he located and brought the drowning man back to the surface. Although twice forced under the water by the struggling and panic-stricken victim, Fireman Pennington managed to swim with him to the side of ORISKANY and kept him afloat until the arrival of the ship’s lifeboat.