The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Chief Watertender William V. Itzin, United States Navy, for heroic conduct at Kolombangara Island, 6 July 1943. Knowing that his ship, the U.S.S. NICHOLAS (DD-449), rescuing survivors from a torpedoed cruiser, might be forced to leave him stranded, he jumped into an oil-covered, shark-infested sea to assist survivors who were too weak to hold to the line and life preservers. He continued the rescue work until an enemy attack forced him to return to his ship.