The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Lieutenant Edward A. Michael, Jr., United States Navy, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy in swimming through heavy seas and dangerous surf to the shore to rescue the weakened and injured survivors of a patrol plane which had crashed on an island. Although at the point of exhaustion from cold and exposure, he remained on the island directing the rescue operation, leaving only when officers and crew of the disabled plane had been removed.