The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Boatswain’s Mate First Class Charles E. Wiegand, United States Coast Guard, for extremely heroic conduct while serving aboard the U.S.C.G.C. ALGONQUIN during the rescue of survivors of the wrecked S.S. SVEND FOYNE in the North Atlantic near Greenland On 21 March 1943. Although exceptionally rough seas rolled his ship 20-30 degrees and wind and freezing water seriously hamper rescue operations, Wiegand, with three comrades went over the side and effected a perilous descent to the men who weak and numb from long exposure, clung helplessly to the cargo net after their life boat had tipped and thrown them into the sea. Through sheer physical strength, Wiegand and his companions succeeded in carrying two of the exhausted seamen up the net.