The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Private First Class Paul L. Bowen (MCSN: 865417), United States Marine Corps, for heroism while serving with the Headquarters and Service Battalion of a Marine Amphibious Corps en route to Japanese home islands for occupation duty on 14 September 1945. Private First Class Bowen was a passenger of a medium landing craft which had been ashore and was returning to the ship. Difficulty was experienced in locating the ship’s position, and in coming alongside due to the extreme darkness, high wing and heavy land swells. Without warning, a Marine warrant officer was thrown overboard, and being a poor swimmer, and the water being rough, was in dire danger of drowning. All efforts to get a life buoy or a line to him failed due to the heavy swells, but one Bowen, showing great courage and initiative, dived into the water coming to his assistance, and thereby saved the officer’s life. His heroic actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.