(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Boatswain’s Mate First Class William H. Mueller, United States Coast Guard, was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for heroic performance of duty as petty officer in charge a salvage and repair party from the U.S.C.G.C. SORREL which boarded a burning gasoline-loaded tanker in February 1944. Boatswain’s Mate First Class Mueller also acted as coxswain of the motor while boat transported personnel from the cutter to the tanker. In spite of winds of near gale force and mountainous seas he successfully transferred all members of the party without casualty to the boat or personnel. On boarding the tanker, Boatswain’s Mate First Class Mueller in the face of great danger, opened and flooded compartment in which the fire was localized. The presence of large quantities of high octane gasoline in the ship’s tanks and the gasoline vapor which saturated the atmosphere around the tanker rendered the operation both highly dangerous and difficult.