The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Coast Guard Medal to Aviation Machinist’s Mate Second Class Melvin D. Burrus, United States Coast Guard, for heroism on 31 July 1974 while serving aboard the Aircraft Repair and Supply Center, Elizabeth City, North Carolina, when he assisted in the rescue of survivors and in the fire fighting operations following the crash of a Navy aircraft into a building inhabited by 23 employees. Petty Officer Burrus was working on a Coast Guard helicopter when he observed the Navy aircraft leave the runway and crash into the building approximately 100 yards away and burst into flames. He immediately raced to the building and without hesitation entered the burning structure to search for survivors. Despite the dense smoke, excessive heat, and the great possibility of an ensuring aircraft fuel explosion, Petty Officer Burrus courageously searched the wreckage of the smoke-filled upholstery shop until he located one missing survivor. He assisted in evacuating the seriously injured employee to a safe area and administered mouth-to-mouth resuscitation in a vain effort to revive him. Upon arrival of medical personnel, Petty Officer Burrus immediately returned to the blazing building to attempt to locate any other survivors, but his efforts to reenter the building were hindered by the tremendous heat and smoke of the raging fire. Undaunted, he took charge of a fire hose crew, moved to the front of the fire fighting activities, and aggressively directed a hose crew where fire-fighting efforts of his team contributed to controlling the blaze, thereby precluding a disastrous jet fuel explosion. Although physically exhausted and suffering from smoke inhalation, Petty Officer Burrus remained on scene and subsequently located and identified one of the victims. Petty Officer Burrus’ remarkable initiative, exceptional fortitude, and bravery, in spite of imminent personal danger throughout this rescue mission, reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States Coast Guard.