The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal (Posthumously) to Aviation Electrician’s Mate Second Class John Thomas Edwards (NSN: 4926671), United States Navy, for heroism on 29 July 1967, while serving with a fighter squadron aboard U.S.S. FORRESTAL (CVA-59). When a devastating fire broke out aboard FORRESTAL, accompanied by bomb detonations from aircraft on the flight deck directly above his compartment, he remained in the bomb-ravaged compartment to alert his shipmates of the danger. He led one group of men from the compartment to safety, but when he returned a second time he was overcome and lost his life.