The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Electrician’s Mate Second Class Harold D. Wallace, United States Navy, for heroism on the morning of 6 June 1963 while serving as Electrician on watch in the forward engine room on board U.S.S. VITAL (MSO-474), operating in the Gulf of Mexico. When a severe fire broke out in the forward engine room, the Petty Officer in charge of the watch attempted to hold back the flames, using an installed carbon dioxide system, while Electrician’s Mate Second Class Wallace de-energized all electrical circuits in the space, secured a generator in the area of the fire, and then attempted to place another generator on the line in order to supply vital power to the ship. Only when at the point of exhaustion, and after all fire-fighting capabilities had been expended, did Electrician’s Mate Second Class Wallace evacuate the space and seek safety.