The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Boatswain’s Mate Second Class Woodrow C. Bell (NSN: 8388037), United States Naval Reserve, for heroism and outstanding performance of duty subsequent to the torpedoing of a destroyer escort on 20 December 1944. Boatswain’s Mate Second Class Bell was at his battle station, a member of the Repair Party, when the ship was struck. Being an expert welder, he manned one of the cutting torches and started clearing the wreckage and cutting loose the depth charge racks to lighten the ship. When it was found that the depth charges were stuck in the racks he volunteered to clear the wreckage around them and worked for ten hours, often being completely immersed by waves in close quarters, at grave risk to his life. During and since the emergency, Boatswain’s Mate Second Class Bell has shown outstanding proficiency in his profession, and his coolness and efficiency were an inspiration to all around him. The actions of Boatswain’s Mate Second Class Bell were a great factor in the saving of a valuable ship, and reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.