Seaman First Class Milton O. West, Jr., United States Coast Guard, was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for heroic conduct during rescue operation of survivors of the S.S. EL COSTON February 27, 1944. Seaman First Class West volunteered to go over the side in order to swim to exhausted survivors and attach life lines to them. In spite of rough, debris filled sea he made four trips each time rescuing one survivor. The exemplary courage and heroism displayed by Seaman First Class West reflect great credit upon himself, the United States Coast Guard, and the United States Naval Service.