The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Lieutenant, Junior Grade Harold James Beatty (NSN: 0-234391), United States Naval Reserve, for heroic conduct at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy. On Sunday, 14 February 1943, at approximately 1415, three men were tossing a football back and forth along the edge of the water on the beach at Carmel Bay, California. Eventually, they started wading out into the water after the ball had gone further each time. One man, going out after the ball, was caught by a wave which carried him out further from shore. He tried to swim back, arm over arm, but constantly lost ground. His situation was pointed out to Lieutenant, Junior Grade Beatty and a comrade, who entered the breakers, and reached and rescued the drowning man. Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Beatty risked his own life to save Mr. Robert Williams, a person he had never seen before.