The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Chief Engineman George V. Schaffer, United States Navy, for heroic conduct at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy while serving with the 28th U.S. Naval Construction Battalion in Iceland. Following a fire in an aircraft, Chief Engineman Schaffer was the first man to reach the plane. After having been warned that bombs were in the plane and that a severe explosion was imminent, Chief Engineman Schaffer, with utter disregard for his own personal safety, rushed into the plane and dragged out Sergeant Sam Kupferberg, whose clothes were on fire and who was apparently unable to extricate himself from the plane. After rescuing Sergeant Kupferberg, Chief Engineman Schaffer attempted to go back to see whether or not anyone else was aboard, but was held back by an Army officer. At this moment, the bombs in the plane exploded but Chief Engineman Schaffer was at a safe distance from the plane to escape injury.