The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal (Posthumously) to Lieutenant Burtis P. Cone, United States Coast Guard, for heroic conduct as Executive Officer of the U.S.S. LEOPOLD when that vessel was sunk by submarine in the Atlantic on 9 March 1944. Unmindful of his own danger and refusing to save himself while members of his crew were still in danger, Lieutenant Cone worked desperately to assist his companions and remained in the water with them when an enemy vessel forced the rescue ship to retire from the scene.