The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Ensign Arlie C. Bingham (NSN: 0-198170), United States Navy, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy. On 12 January 1944 the U.S.S. PRESIDENT JACKSON, a vessel of the U.S. Navy, was in the process of embarking troops at Empress Augusta Bay, Bougainville. At 1513 on said date William E. Baker, PFC, M Battery, Fourth Battalion, Twelfth Marines, THIRD Marine Division, had disembarked from a landing boat which was tied up alongside the ship, and was halfway up on embarkation n et when he fell backward into the water. The sea was very high with swells from eight to ten feet high and a strong current was running. The Marine was carrying a field pack and consequently was helpless when he fell into the water. Shortly after he had fallen into the water, George William Lutz, Coxswain, who boat was tied up alongside the ship just aft of the boat from which Baker disembarked, dove into the water and brought the man up from below the surface. In the meantime the Marine’s pack had freed itself. Ensign Bingham, who was standing on the main deck of the ship, saw that Coxswain Lutz was having difficulty in supporting the man and dove in to assist him. Ensign Bingham carried the man to a boat that was standing by and both were taken aboard it. Artificial respiration was given by Ensign Bingham and later by the ship’s doctor and his associates. When Lieutenant Commander H. B. Mason, MC-V(W), USNR, the ship’s medical officer arrived on the scene Private Baker was still alive. Artificial respiration was administered for one hour and a half, oxygen was given, two ampules of Coramine and two injections of Adrenalin were also give. The man was pronounced dead by the doctor about two hours after he was taken from the water.