Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Navy and Marine Corps Medal

    Service:

    United States Coast Guard

    Rank:

    Soundman Second Class

    Division:

    U.S.C.G.C. Algonquin

    Action Date:

    March 21, 1943

    Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 323 (February 1944)

    The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Soundman Second Class Frank M. Cunningham, United States Coast Guard, for extremely heroic conduct while serving aboard the U.S.C.G.C. ALGONQUIN during the rescue, from a life boat of survivors of the wrecked S.S. SVEND FOYNE near Greenland, 21 March 1943. With exceptionally rough seas rolling his ship from 20 to 30 degrees and with wind and freezing water greatly hampering rescue operations, Soundman Second Class Cunningham after recovering from his first futile attempt unhesitatingly went over the ALGONQUIN’s side second time and effected a perilous descent on the cargo net to the swamped craft and tied lines around two of the exhausted men, enabling them to be pulled to the vessel’s deck. He undoubtedly saved two lives which otherwise might have been lost.