The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Lieutenant Commander David R. Smith, United States Navy, for heroism during a fire in the after fireroom aboard U.S.S. WILKINSON (DL-5) at sea, on 3 January 1962. Upon reaching the access to the fireroom, and learning that two Navy men were believed still in the space, Lieutenant Commander Smith donned an oxygen-breathing apparatus and entered the compartment. He located the men and successfully carried them from the compartment, saving their lives. He then returned to the compartment and directed damage assessment and machinery isolation which prevented further spreading of the fire despite burns, exhaustion and smoke inhalation which he suffered during the rescue attempts.