The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Boatswain’s Mate First Class Hadie M. Griffis, United States Navy, for heroic conduct when the U.S.S. HORNET (CV-8) was subjected to violent Japanese air attack. Boatswain’s Mate First Class Griffis dived back into the water after being rescued by a destroyer and assisted five of his comrades to safety. Before becoming exhausted, he also secured lines to two life rafts.