The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Lieutenant, Junior Grade James A. Weems, United States Naval Reserve, for heroic conduct during World War II. Responsible for the hazardous and important task of bomb disposal operations on Tarawa Atoll from 24 November 1943 to 8 December 1943, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Weems hastily trained personnel to replace extensive casualties in the bomb disposal squad and worked tirelessly under extremely trying conditions. He carried out disposal operations without casualty to personnel.