The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Fire Control Technician First Class Lee T. McKnight, United States Navy, for heroism while serving aboard U.S.S. ALBANY (CG-10) at sea approximately 200 miles east of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, on the morning of 5 March 1966. A fellow sailor was washed overboard from U.S.S. AUCILLA (AO-56). He was sighted by ALBANY lookouts, and the cruiser was immediately maneuvered into position to attempt a rescue. Fire Control Technician First Class McKnight, responding to the cries for help from the injured and nearly exhausted victim, leaped from ALBANY into the 12-foot seas churned by gale force winds and swam approximately 20 yards to the victim. Towing the man toward the ship, he succeeded in attaching a recovery line to him and helped him aboard. By his prompt and courageous actions, Fire Control Technician First Class McKnight saved the life of another man at the risk of his own.