The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Aviation Machinist’s Mate Second Class James Don Bullard, United States Navy, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy. PBY-5A airplane, Bureau Number 08043, Squadron Number 31-P-1, piloted by Lieutenant, Junior Grade William Baxter Waldrop, crashed two minutes after take off from the Coast Guard Air Station field at Elizabeth City, North Carolina, at 0510 on 17 January 1943. The airplane was attached to Patrol Squadron THIRTY-ONE (VP-31) operating from the U.S.S. Coast Guard Air Station at Elizabeth City, North Carolina, as part of a task unit under Commander Eastern Sea Frontier. At the time of the accident the airplane was proceeding on a mission assigned by the task force commander. The pilot, co-pilot and plane captain were killed instantly. The first mechanic, Aviation Machinist’s Mate Second Class Bullard, who was in the tower was thrown clear and received only slight lacerations and a bad jarring. The navigator and second mechanic likewise were thrown clear, injured and stunned. Both radiomen lay stunned in the wreckage which caught fire immediately, being saturated with gasoline. Aviation Machinist’s Mate Second Class Bullard dragged both radiomen out of the flames and in so doing was himself severely burned. One of the radiomen, Smith, died later of burns received at this time. Noteworthy is the fact that none of the survivors had used safety belts.