The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Coxswain Jack W. Culpepper, United States Naval Reserve, for heroic conduct when the S.S. ELIHU YALE was set afire in the assault area off the Anzio beachhead on 15 February 1944. Coxswain Culpepper boarded the blazing ammunition and gasoline loaded ship in spite of almost continual enemy attack, noxious fumes and exploding ammunition and fought the flames persistently until the fire was extinguished.