The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Boatswain’s Mate Second Class Oran Delbert Ragan, United States Coast Guard, for heroic conduct as coxswain of a tank lighter while attached to a United States transport during the assault on French Morocco, 8 to 11 November 1942. On the night of 9-10 November 1942, when the mountains waves pounded the beach near Mehdia, keeping all other boats at the mooring, Boatswain’s Mate Second Class Ragan, at great risk of his life, dauntlessly put out from shore with the senior medical officer and twelve wounded comrades. With expert seamanship and grim determination he brought his lighter through the dangerous surf and finally transferred the injured to safety. His cool courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Military Service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service.