The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Construction Mechanic Third Class Clayton A. Wood, United States Navy, for heroic conduct when a plane crashed 200 yards off shore at Jamestown, Rhode Island, 5 December 1943. Construction Mechanic Third Class Wood swam to the assistance of the dazed and injured pilot despite extreme cold. With the help of a comrade he pulled him onto a rock and then fought desperately to reach another injured man and dragged him ashore.