The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Corporal Leroy Abney (MCSN: 813488), United States Marine Corps, for heroism while serving with a Marine Amphibious Tractor Battalion on the Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands, on 31 January 1944. While landing assault infantry troops, Corporal Abney’s tractor, two miles off shore, broke column to rescue survivors of a tractor which had sunk. While occupants of his tractor were pulling tractor crewmen and infantry troops aboard, he noticed the treacherous current caused several of the survivors to drive away and to be pulled under. With utter disregard for his own safety, he dived into the heavy seas and held up two of the survivors who were being pulled under by the current, keeping them afloat until his tractor could come alongside to rescue them. His heroic action was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.