The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Staff Sergeant Byron C. Balliet (MCSN: 394530), United States Marine Corps, for heroic conduct in rescuing his fellow crew member from a fully armed and gassed torpedo bomber loaded with four depth bombs which had crashed on 22 December 1944 at Agana Field, Guam. Staff Sergeant Balliet, who was a turret gunner of the crashed ship, in spite of injuries and in the face of flames rapidly enveloping the aircraft, released himself through the escape hatch, knowing the condition of his own aircraft and that of the others among which it had crashed, completely disregarded his own personal safety in the interests of his fellow crew member, and without hesitation, gallantly made his way around the burning aircraft to the radio compartment and removed the injured and unconscious radio gunner. Staff Sergeant Balliet’s alert and courageous action at grave risk of his own life saved the life of his fellow crewman, and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.