Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Navy and Marine Corps Medal

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Seaman

    Division:

    U.S.S. Duncan (DD-485)

    Action Date:

    March 1, 1948

    The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Seaman William L. Brownlee, Jr. (NSN: 3470720), United States Navy, for heroic actions at sea on 1 March 1948, immediately following an explosion aboard the U.S.S. DUNCAN (DD-485). He, although injured himself, immediately called out to other injured men in the compartment he was in to keep calm, stay where they were, and that he would lead them out. The smoke-filled compartment was a shambles of bunks, mattresses, collapsed lockers and other debris with water entering. He coolly acted with intelligence and instructed injured men to hang on to him and to each other. These men were burned and partially or fully blinded by the explosion. He unerringly led five of them in this manner to the main deck. Observing three injured men trying to make their way out of a hole in the side as the main deck outboard of a depth charge rack loaded with ready and damaged depth charges, he assisted these men to safety. He then returned to the damaged compartment and assisted repair parties in the removal of one casualty from the compartment. His coolness and courage and selflessness in taking charge and quieting the group, in an removal of these men from the damaged compartment, was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.