The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Coxswain Benjamin Herbert Brumbeloe, United States Naval Reserve, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy. On 18 August 1943, the U.S.S. LST 396 while proceeding to Vella LaVella, British Solomon Islands, to discharge a combat load comprised largely of aviation gasoline and 155-mm. ammunition, was subjected to an explosion as a result of enemy action and subsequently caught fire, blew up and sank. The explosion occurred under the after troop berthing compartment on the port side. Flames and intermittent explosions from gasoline and powder made this part of the ship an extremely dangerous spot. Coxswain Brumbeloe, under hazardous conditions, entered the ship’s boat and was lowered into the water alone where he succeeded in releasing both boat falls, started the engine and cleared the ship’s side. He then picked up survivors repeatedly venturing close to the ship’s side to rescue survivors in an area where heavy wreckage and flaming debris thrown out by the explosions were constantly falling. Courage and judgment played equal parts in his successful efforts to rescue his shipmates, among whom many casualties would no doubt have occurred but for his excellent work.