The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Carpenter Jesse H. Wheless, Jr., United States Navy, for heroic conduct in assisting the Officer-in-Charge of building an emergency landing strip in the Aleutian Islands, Territory of Alaska, during World War II. Carpenter Wheless facilitated the landing of troops and equipment on an unprotected beach, despite extremely unfavorable weather and the threat of enemy submarine and air attack.