(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Ensign Patrick B. Irwin, United States Coast Guard, was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for heroic conduct while serving aboard a destroyer escort during the rescue of survivors of the sunk U.S.S. LEOPOLD in the North Atlantic area on the nigh of 9 March 1944. Volunteering to assist in the rescue activities, Motor Ensign Irwin, although fully aware that his own ship might be forced to leave the area to avoid hostile torpedoes or to attack enemy submarines operating in the vicinity, unhesitatingly went over the side into the icy, oil covered waters and working tirelessly and with utter disregard for personal safety secured life lines around the exhausted survivors until he himself was completely exhausted and unable to continue his battle against the rough seas. His selfish efforts were contributing factors in the saving of many lives.