The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal (Posthumously) to Radioman Third Class Charles A. Bean (NSN: 8229086), United States Navy, for heroism in fighting fires that resulted in an explosion on board the LCT 560 on 2 January 1946. On that date, two loaded LCT’s (560 & 783) and two unloaded LCT’s (891 & 1414) were beached at Okinawa for the purpose of out loading Army and Navy surplus ammunitions. About 1625 a fire broke out in the 1,200-ton load (small caliber bullets, grenades, pyrotechnics and land mines) on LCT 560. The crew of LCT 891 prepared to retract. While the skeleton crew of the LCT 891 attended the mechanics of the retraction, Radioman Third Class Charles A. Bean and Seaman First Class Donald Boyce of the LCT 891 attempted to check the nearby fire with a 2 1/2 inch fire hose from the LCT 891. In doing so they exposed themselves knowingly to flying shrapnel and ignited flares. AT approximately 1630 that date, the load aboard the LCT 560 exploded. Radioman Third Class Bean and Seaman First Class Boyce were killed instantly. Their actions succeeded in gaining additional time for their shipmates, and provided a water shield against the smoke and ignited flares while their shipmates attempted retraction.