The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Motor Machinist’s Mate First Class Robert H. Folstadt, United States Navy, for heroic conduct during World War II. Motor Machinist’s Mate First Class Folstadt took part in valorous and effective rescue work during a dive bombing raid on an advance naval base in the Solomon Islands. When a landing craft was bombed and set afire, he and a comrade swam out to the craft, while it was being beached, to rescue a wounded man hanging by a line forward. Returning to the shore, they boarded a lighter rigged with a fire pump and brought it out to the burning vessel. Despite the intense heat and suffocating fumes, Motor Machinist’s Mate First Class Folstadt remained aboard, fighting to bring the blaze under control.