The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal (Posthumously) to Boatswain Joseph F. Young (NSN: 199332), United States Navy, for heroic conduct on 31 December 1942. In utter disregard for his own safety, he set out in a motor whaleboat from a United States Warship to rescue 12 members of the crew of a merchantman, broken on the rocks and being pounded by mountainous seas. During a second attempt to rescue additional crew members his boat was swamped and Boatswain Young with 17 others disappeared into the sea.