The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Boatswain’s Mate First Class Emil Stetkar, United States Coast Guard, for heroic conduct while attached to a Coast Guard Cutter during the rescue of a shipmate in the strait between Kodiak and Afognak Islands, Territory of Alaska, on 30 October 1944. Engaged in replacing a canvas cover on a motor whaleboat when a comrade fell overboard into the icy waters, Boatswain’s Mate First Class Stetkar promptly threw him a line and a life buoy and observing the shocked man’s inability to help himself in the swift current unhesitatingly went over the side although severely handicapped by heavy foul-weather clothing. Pushing the lifeline along as he swam, he reached the side of the unconscious man and bravely exerting every effort to hold his helpless companion’s head above the water despite his own weakened condition, succeeded in supporting him until the arrival of a rescue boat.