(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Lieutenant, Junior Grade Stanley B. Kurta, United States Coast Guard, was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for extremely heroic conduct while attached to the U.S.S. PC-469 when tow enlisted men were washed over board in a heavy sea south of Guantanamo, Cuba, 12 April 1944. Undeterred by knowledge of sharks in the area, he obtained life preservers and accompanied by a seaman dived overboard. Quickly swimming to the side of one man he did everything possible to calm him turned him over to the seaman to be supported until picked up by the ship’s boat. Proceeding to the other victim about fifteen yards farther out, he courageously fought of an attaching shard, struggling to hold the wounded man in spite of his own waning strength and lacerations to his hand sustained in the unequal combat.