The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Aviation Warfare Systems Operator First Class (Aviation Warfare) Stewart C. Mathews, United States Navy, for heroism while serving as a Helicopter Rescue Swimmer assigned to Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light FOUR SIX during search and rescue operations in support of Joint Task Force KATRINA on 2 September 2005. In an extremely dynamic and exhausting search and rescue mission over Louisiana, Petty Officer Mathews displayed bravery and selflessness with tremendous jeopardy to his own safety by risking his life during the search and rescue effort in the wake of Hurricane KATRINA. He deployed to the gabled roof of a flooded two-story home through deadly debris and dangerous power lines, closing to within ten feet of a razor-sharp wind-damaged tree to rescue five stranded civilians, one of which was a bedridden elderly victim. After safely recovering three survivors and using his own body as a shield from the swirling debris, he entered the damaged house through the hole, traversing a structurally unsound attic to locate the bedridden survivor. Displaying a strong presence of mind and using his surroundings, Petty Officer Mathews constructed a makeshift stretcher in order to safely maneuver the survivor back through the unstable attic and through the one-foot by two-foot hole in the roof. Employing the rescue litter, he hoisted the survivor to safety, avoiding downed trees and power lines, and then safely recovered the final survivor. By his courageous and prompt actions in the face of great personal risk, Petty Officer Mathews undoubtedly prevented the loss of several lives, thereby reflecting great credit upon himself and upholding the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.