(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Seaman Third Class Wendel J. Kupac, 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 two ship in the Atlantic on the night of 25 February 1944. When crew of both vessels were forced by raging gasoline fires to abandon ship, Seaman Third Class Kupac voluntarily went over the side and aided exhausted survivors to reach the rescue vessel.