(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Watertender Second Class John D. Lawless, United States Coast Guard, was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for heroism on 3 May 1944 while serving on board the U.S.S. MENGES off the Algerian Coast. When the MENGES was torpedoed in action with an enemy submarine, Watertender Second Class Lawless with courage and initiative assisted in removing two badly wounded men from the wreckage in a compartment where the danger from fire or explosion was imminent. In so doing he voluntarily risked his own safety and probably saved the lives of two men who were too badly injured to save themselves.