The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Coxswain Ralph L. Dudley, United States Coast Guard, for heroism while attached to the U.S.C.G.C. ALGONQUIN on 21 March 1943, when survivors from the S.S. SVEND FOYNE were rescued. Coxswain Dudley exhibited outstanding heroism when under difficult conditions of darkness, cold and rough seas and under great physical hardship, he assisted in the rescue of survivors from a swamped lifeboat at the risk of his own life. He bravely climbed down a cargo net over the ship’s side and entered the water between the boat and the ship in a valiant attempt to save the survivors who were in a state of collapse and would have perished but or his courageous efforts. He carried two exhausted seamen up the cargo net.