The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Coxswain Charles E. Cooper, United States Navy, for heroic conduct following an explosion aboard his ship, the U.S.S. INGRAHAM (DD-444), which collided and sank while in convoy on 22 August 1942. Coxswain Cooper landed near a life raft and, in spite of the danger, he paddled back to the sinking ship, then on her side, and rescued seven of his comrades.