The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Lieutenant, Junior Grade John M. Mulcahy, United States Navy, for heroism on 20 November 1966, while serving as a crewman in a helicopter embarked in U.S.S. CORAL SEA (CVA-43). Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Mulcahy manned an aircraft as first crewman during an attempted rescue of two men lost overboard from a destroyer during a wire highline freight transfer mishap. Arriving at the scene, he directed lowering the second crewman into the heavy seas and advised the pilot of his hover position in near-zero visibility. After several unsuccessful attempts, the second crewman, completely exhausted, had to be brought back aboard the helicopter. Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Mulcahy immediately descended into the water and succeeded in placing the man in the sling. Once aboard the helicopter, he administered mouth-to-mouth resuscitation in a valiant attempt to revive the unconscious man.