The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Pharmacist’s Mate Third Class Jack W. Smay, United States Navy, for heroic conduct while serving as a Medical Corpsman attached to the FIRST Marine Division at Guadalcanal, 15 and 16 September 1942. Pharmacist’s Mate Third Class Smay rendered expert and timely assistance to wounded personnel in a barrage of mortar and machine gun fire, and was instrumental in returning to the battle many men who were urgently needed at the moment.