The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Gunner’s Mate Third Class Wallace E. Hicks, United States Navy, for heroic conduct after sighting the survivors of a plane crash off the side of his ship. Gunner’s Mate Third Class Hicks dived overboard and swam to a man near the wing of the wrecked plane. He gave the injured man a life jacket and succeeded, with the help of a comrade, in getting the survivor to the ship. He then returned and rescued another survivor.