The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Seaman First Class Robert Sagas, United States Coast Guard, for heroism on 26 January 1944, which attached to U.S.S. LST 16, during the amphibious invasion at Anzio, Italy. During a full gale with extremely heavy seas Seaman First Class Sagas volunteered as a member of a boar crew to go the side of the burning HMS LST 422 in an effort to rescue personnel trapped below decks. With out hesitation he assisted in taking the small boat through a heavily mined area alongside the blazing ship. Despite the fact that the HMS LST 422 was pitching and rolling in a dangerous manner and ammunition was exploding he aided in effecting the rescue of a soldier trapped in a lower compartment of the ship by removing him through a hole in the side of the LST and being him safely to the U.S.S. LST 16.