The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Pharmacist’s Mate Second Class John J. Murphy, United States Navy, for heroic conduct when a gasoline explosion and ranging fire occurred aboard a U.S. Merchant vessel. Pharmacist’s Mate Second Class Murphy and his comrades skillfully assisted in fighting the fire and in casting off the mooring lines so that the ship could be towed away, thereby preventing damage to shore establishments and other ships in the harbor.