The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Aviation Boatswain’s Mate Airman Apprentice Hance A. Doncaster, United States Navy, for heroism while serving as the Bow Catapult Topside Petty Officer in U.S.S. FORRESTAL (CV-59) while deployed to the Mediterranean on 11 August 1975. During night flight operations, a flight deck tractor was inadvertently driven across the catapult foul line directly in the path of an E-2d Battalion aircraft in tension and ready for launch on the starboard catapult. Realizing that neither the aircraft pilot nor the Catapult Officer could see the approaching tractor because of the extreme darkness present, Airman Apprentice Doncaster, with complete disregard for his own personal safety and fully aware of the personal danger involved, rushed in front of the aircraft toward the tractor and managed to alert the Catapult Officer who aborted the launch. His courageous and prompt actions in the face of great personal risk undoubtedly saved the lives of five crew members in the aircraft, the tractor driver, and numerous other flight deck personnel working in close proximity to the catapult; thereby reflecting great credit upon himself and upholding the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.