The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Airman Stephen E. Magaldi, United States Navy, for heroism while attached to Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-FOUR, embarked in U.S.S. NIMITZ (CVN-68), on 27 May 1981. Following an aircraft accident that resulted in a major flight deck fire, Airman Magaldi saw two shipmates blown from the flight deck into the port catwalk. Intense uncontrollable fires were springing up on the port bow as aviation jet fuel from damaged aircraft rapidly spread over the forward flight deck and into the catwalks. Realizing the dire situation facing the two sailors, Airman Magaldi, with complete disregard for his own safety, unhesitatingly ran to the deck edge and jumped from the burning flight deck into the burning catwalk near the portside forward jet refueling station. He quickly freed the two dazed and struggling men who were entangled among fuel hoses which had been blown into the catwalk on top of them. By his prompt, courage3ous actions in the face of personal risk, Airman Magaldi was instrumental in saving the lives of two of his shipmates in imminent danger of being lost overboard or fatally entrapped by the rapidly spreading fire; thereby reflecting great credit upon himself and upholding the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.