The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Motor Machinist’s Mate Second Class Paul Sarich, United States Naval Reserve, for heroism while attached to the U.S.S. LANSDALE following an attack by enemy aircraft off the coast of Algeria on the night of 20 April 1944. After the U.S.S. LANSDALE had been torpedoed and sunk by enemy torpedo planes, Motor Machinist’s Mate Second Class Sarich left the relative safety of a floater net and swam to the aid of an injured crew member who was in danger of drowning. He helped the man remain afloat and brought him to the floater net from which he was recovered by a rescue vessel.