The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Lieutenant, Junior Grade John P. Brown, United States Navy, for heroic conduct during World War II. As Commanding Officer of the Armed Guard on a merchant vessel which was torpedoed and set afire, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Brown and a cadet broke down the door of a flame-filled room and rescued a trapped boatswain whose clothes were ablaze. In spite of painful injuries, he later manned a life raft and continued to look after his gun crew.