The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Shipfitter Third Class Robert E. H. C. L. Beaver, United States Navy, for heroism while serving aboard U.S.S. BETELGEUSE (AK-260) at a shipyard in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, on the morning of 7 January 1966. Upon being told that two men had been overcome by fumes while working in the tank of a jet fuel barge dry-docked in the shipyard, Shipfitter Third Class Beaver donned an oxygen breathing apparatus (OBA) and climbed into the tank to rescue one of the victims. Through his prompt and courageous actions in the emergency situation, Shipfitter Third Class Beaver was directly responsible for saving a life.