The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal (Posthumously) to Chief Electrician’s Mate Horace Leslie Thomas, United States Coast Guard, for heroic conduct while rescuing an exhausted officer from drowning on 7 April 1944. When a motor whale boat attached to the U.S.S. HOWARD D. CROW capsized during hoisting operations, throwing her crew into the sea, Chief Electrician’s Mate Thomas promptly lowered himself into the treacherous waters and secured in line to the drowning man. Chief Electrician’s Mate Thomas enabled the crew to haul his helpless shipmate aboard, although he himself drowned while attempting to return to the vessel.