The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Lieutenant John G. Gaston, II, United States Navy, for heroic conduct on 28 August 1943. Observing a woman caught in the strong current off Bay Head, New Jersey, Lieutenant Gaston plunged into the surf with a rubber mattress and swam to her rescue. Although she was four times dislodged by the heavy surf, he eventually brought her to safety.