The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Motor Machinist’s Mate Second Class Peter E. Benoist (NSN: 6682896), United States Naval Reserve, for heroism and distinguished conduct on the night of 12 November 1942, while attached to the U.S.S. ARCTURUS (AKA-1). Motor Machinist’s Mate Second Class Benoist was a member of the crew of a landing boat from the U.S.S. ARCHTURUS which was engaged in the rescue of personnel from the torpedoed and sinking U.S.S. EDWARD RUTLEDGE. Seeing a severely burned man apparently unable to swim and disappearing beneath the surface of the water, Motor Machinist’s Mate Second Class Benoist turned over his engineer’s duties to another member of the boat crew and, at the risk of his own life, dived into the water and succeeded in bringing the sinking man to the surface of the water and towing him to the boat where he was pulled aboard and saved. The courage and initiative displayed by Motor Machinist’s Mate Second Class Benoist reflect great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.