The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Boatswain’s Mate Second Class Richard R. Westergard, United States Naval Reserve, for heroic conduct during World War II. Observing the desperate struggles of a Marine whose outrigger canoe had swamped off Opolu, Western Samoa, Boatswain’s Mate Second Class Westergard dived over the side of his Navy launch, which was unable to get close enough to throw a line, swam to the canoe and rescued the Marine.