The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Seaman First Class Robert E. Luttrell, United States Naval Reserve, for heroic conduct when more than 40 wounded men were brought aboard his ship, LST 351, during the Italian invasion in 1944. Although exposed to enemy gunfire and air attack, he worked continuously for more than 20 hours dressing wounds, administering blood plasma and generally caring for the wounded, thereby contributing in a large measure to minimizing loss of life.