The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Gunnery Sergeant Ronald Lee Briles (MCSN: 1959551), United States Marine Corps, for heroism while serving with the Station’s Crash Crew Division, Airfield Operations Department, Marine Corps Air Station, Iwakuni, Japan, on 26 April 1983. Assigned as Noncommissioned Officer in Charge, Gunnery Sergeant Briles led his duty section in rescue/firefighting operations in response to the tragic crash of a Japanese Air Self Defense Force PS-1 aircraft adjacent to, but beyond the confines of the Marine Corps Air Station. Upon arrival at the crash site, Gunnery Sergeant Briles quickly assessed the situation and deployed his firefighters in an effort to abate the intense and explosive flames. Once the flames were brought under control, it was quickly determined that there were survivors trapped in the twisted wreckage atop a pool of aviation fuel. With complete disregard for his own safety, Gunnery Sergeant Briles worked four arduous hours extracting the surviving victims from the smoldering wreckage. By his courage, selfless determination, and his superior application of technical skills, Gunnery Sergeant Briles contributed significantly to the saving of three human lives and the abatement of destructive fires at the crash site; thereby reflecting great credit upon himself and upholding the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.