The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Motor Machinist’s Mate First Class Richard J. Cariens, United States Coast Guard, for heroic conduct as a member of a Coast Guard fireboard crew following an explosion aboard an Army Aircraft Rescue boat at a dock on 22 September 1943. After he and his crew mates had extinguished the fire Motor Machinist’s Mate First Class Cariens unhesitatingly went aboard the rescue boat and undeterred by the possibility of another explosion of high octane gasoline, located and repaired a ruptured fuel line. His gallant disregard for his own safety and his excellent spirit of cooperation throughout the accomplishment of a hazardous task contributed to the reduction of danger to port installations and vessels docked in the vicinity.