The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Lieutenant, Junior Grade Roman G. Manthei, United States Navy, for heroic conduct in charge of ordnance salvage on damaged ships at Pearl Harbor, following the Japanese attack on 7 December 1941. Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Manthei skillfully directed the dangerous work and was responsible for the recovery of valuable quantities of material despite the presence of toxic gases, water, fuel oil and debris in the compartments.