The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Coxswain Norbert A. Kohlbeck, United States Navy, for heroic conduct as a member of the Armed Guard aboard the S.S. MAIDEN CREEK when it was sunk on 17 March 1944. Coxswain Kohlbeck sighted an unconscious merchant seaman who had been blown from the ship by the torpedo explosion. Although dazed and suffering from severe shock, he swam 50 feet to rescue the man and after placing him on a life raft, guided the raft to a rescue vessel.