The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Torpedoman’s Mate Second Class Richard A. Olson, United States Navy, for heroic conduct during a fire in the fuel and ammunition dump at a torpedo boat base on Vella Lavella, 14 December 1943. Torpedoman’s Mate Second Class Olson courageously boarded one of the abandoned craft as flames from the dump spread dangerously near it and threw life jackets to men in the water. He entered the engine room and, although inexperienced, assisted in starting the engines and getting the boat to safety.