The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Private Arthur J. Auxer, Jr. (MCSN: 531443), United States Marine Corps, for heroism in rescuing injured men and preventing destruction of government property following an explosion on 21 May 1944 in Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii. While he and a companion were saving an armored amphibian vehicle from a burning ship, he encountered and rescued injured men from the water who had become physically disabled by the explosions. As he was moving away from the enveloping blaze and explosions, his vehicle caught fire which was immediately put out by his prompt actions, saving the casualties and the armored amphibian. Later, he returned again, heedless of his own personal safety, and assisted in driving four other armored amphibians away from the burning ship. His courage and resourcefulness throughout were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.