The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Coxswain Russell M. Speck, United States Coast Guard, for heroic conduct while serving aboard the U.S.S. ARTHUR MIDDLETON (AP-55), as coxswain of a Power Boat during rescue operations when the U.S.S. WORDEN (DD-352) was stranded on 12 January 1943, in the Aleutian Islands. With mountainous seas breaking heavily on board the sinking warship and adjacent rocks, Coxswain Speck skillfully maneuvered his boat into extremely perilous positions, many times narrowly escaping certain destruction and personally rescued approximately 15 of his shipmates.