The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Chief Petty Officer Douglass A. Murch, United States Navy, for heroic conduct during the assault on and occupation of French Morocco, on 12 November 1942. When his ship, the U.S.S. HUGH L. SCOTT, was sunk of Fedala, French Morocco, Chief Murch assisted in getting rafts over the side and continually encouraged the crew as they left the stricken vessel. Twice he dived overboard and rescued men who were struggling in the water.