The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal (Posthumously) to Airman Walter Edwin Steele (NSN: 1191932), United States Navy, for heroism on 29 July 1967, while serving aboard U.S.S. FORRESTAL (CVA-59). When a fire broke out on the flight deck and swept through aircraft on the flight deck, Airman Steele, assigned to the crash and salvage crew, rushed aft to effect the rescue of pilots trapped in the burning aircraft. He courageously struggled to rescue personnel from the area engulfed in flames until a bomb detonated, taking his life.