The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Technical Sergeant John G. Baker (MCSN: 245629), United States Marine Corps, for heroism in extinguishing the fire caused by the crash of an Army plane in the Southwest Pacific Area. When the plane crashed, it left a trail of gasoline which burst into flames and spread to a plane parked nearby. Disregarding the peril to his life from the possible spreading of the fire and explosion of the plane, Technical Sergeant Baker hurried to the scene of the fire with a fire bottle and succeeded in extinguishing the flames. His courage, coolness and foresight prevented spreading of the fire and thus saved further loss of life and damage to adjacent planes and other property in the area. His heroic conduct was in accordance with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.