The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Coast Guard Medal to Seaman Michael Carola, United States Coast Guard, for heroism at the risk of life on 6 May 2000. While serving as rescue swimmer aboard a 47-foot motor lifeboat, Seaman Carola, disregarding his own safety, went into the cold and turbulent waters of Oregon Inlet and placed his body between bridge piles and an 82-year-old man suffering from hypothermia to prevent the man from being pulled beneath the water. Carola held the 250-pound man up, keeping his head above water despite the force of the current and the man’s inability to assist in his own rescue. As the boat crew struggled to pull them to safety, the exhausted victim told Carola that he was not going to survive and to let him go. Carola, desperately trying to encourage him not to give up, was able to force a life ring over the victim’s head and under his arms. Under Seaman Carola’s direction, the MLB pulled both of them to safety. Seaman Carola swam the then-unconscious victim to the MLB, where he was immediately treated for hypothermia and transferred to an ambulance. His courage and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Coast Guard.