(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Radarman Third Class Edward Paul Lewandowski, United States Coast Guard, was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for heroic conduct while serving aboard the U.S.S. RICKETTS during rescue operations following a collision between the S.S. EL COSTON and the S.S. MURFREESBORO in the Atlantic Area on the night of 25 – 26 February 1944. When the crewmembers of both severely damaged vessels were forced by raging gasoline fires to abandon ship Radarman Third Class Lewandowski voluntarily went over the side of his heavily rolling rescue ship and despite the rough sears and burning gasoline which covered a large part of the water worked tirelessly and with utter disregard of his own safety to aid the exhausted survivors in reaching and climbing the nets rigged along the sides of the rescue vessel.