The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Coxswain James R. Larsen, United States Naval Reserve, for heroic conduct in the Central Pacific Area on 23 January 1944. Acting as coxswain of a motor whaleboat, Coxswain Larsen went to the aid of a drowning man who was being carried toward a hazardous reef by the current. He dived from his boat into the rough waters, grabbed the man and towed him back to the whaleboat.