The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal (Posthumously) to Ship’s Cook Second Class Forrest O. Rednour (USCGSN: 231198), United States Coast Guard, for heroic and courageous conduct in effecting the rescue of survivors from the torpedoed S.S. DORCHESTER on 3 February 1943. When the benumbed survivors of S.S. DORCHESTER were unable, because of heavy seas and freezing winds, to make any efforts to climb on board the rescue ship, Ship’s Cook Second Class Rednour volunteered for the dangerous task of going over side and working in rough freezing water in order to assist the exhausted and helpless survivors in reaching the safety of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter U.S.S. ESCAMBIA. In spite of strong, sub-freezing wind and rough, near-freezing seas, he disregarded all discomforts and danger and worked with complete disregard of his own safety until he and fellow volunteers had rescued a total of 93 survivors from certain death in steadily mounting seas. Realizing the danger of being crushed between the rafts and the ship’s side, or of being struck by a propeller blade if the engines backed, he swam in under the counter of the constantly maneuvering Escanaba and prevented many floating survivors from being caught in the suction of the screws, in one instance retrieving a loaded raft. The bravery, determination and disregard for his own safety displayed by Ship’s Cook Second Class Rednour in assisting in the rescue of almost 100 helpless survivors were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.