The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Coast Guard Medal to Machinery Technician Second Class Mark L. Eckroth, United States Coast Guard, for extraordinary heroism on the night of 13 April 1979 when he assisted in the rescue of an unconscious fisherman from the surf at Bird Rock, Bodega Bay, California. The fishing vessel CAMMELEA had grounded in 8 to 10-foot seas with 25-knot winds pounding her hard against the rocks near Bird Rock. Earlier, Petty Officer Eckroth, as boat coxswain, and a shipmate from Coast Guard Station Bodega Bay, had used a Sonoma County, California Sheriff’s Department 16-foot Boston Whaler to deliver an interpreter to Bird Rock in an effort to communicate with the fishermen on board CAMMELEA, and had then taken up a position offshore with a Coast Guard motor lifeboat. Upon notification by a Sheriff’s Department helicopter than one of the fishermen had been washed overboard and was afloat near the northern tip of Bird Rock, Petty Officer Eckroth immediately, and with complete disregard for his own safety, maneuvered the Boston Whaler into the heavy surf to rescue the helpless man. When the helicopter was forced to land before reaching the man, Petty Officer Eckroth, without hesitation, continued to maneuver among the rocks with only a flashlight to illuminate the area until the man was sighted. He then brought he Boston Whaler alongside so that his shipmate could pull the man aboard. With the unconscious man safely on board, Petty Officer Eckroth guided the rescue craft back through the rocks toward open water. Once clear of the rocks, he turned the helm over to his shipmate and commenced cardiopulmonary resuscitation of the fisherman. While still in heavy seas, the engine of the Boston Whaler died, requiring the Coast Guard motor lifeboat to take it in tow. Due to the heavy seas, the victim could not be transferred to the motor lifeboat. Therefore, Petty Officer Eckroth continued CPR for 45-minutes until the man was transferred to paramedics at Station Bodega Bay. Petty Officer Eckroth demonstrated remarkable initiative, exceptional fortitude, and daring in spite of imminent personal danger in this rescue. His unselfish actions, courage, and unwavering devotion to duty reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States Coast Guard.