The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Coxswain John E. Patterson, United States Coast Guard, for heroism on 26 January 1944, while attached to an LST during the invasion at Anzio, Italy. During a full gale Coxswain Patterson volunteered as a member of a boat crew to go the side of a burning LST in an effort to rescue personnel trapped below decks. Despite the fact the blazing ship was pitching and rolling in dangerous manner and ammunition was exploding he aided in the rescue of a soldier, trapped in a lower compartment and brought him to safety.