The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Staff Sergeant Albert Lee Boyles (MCSN: 536219), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for heroism in evacuating to safety through burning gasoline seventeen passengers of a transport aircraft which crashed and burned at West Field Tinian on 7 January 1945. In spite of being shaken up by the crash he ordered the passengers to keep their seats and to keep their safety belts buckled. While the plane was skidding 1,400 feet down the runway, he succeeded in getting the emergency hatches and main doors open before the forward motion of the plane had ceased. As soon as the aircraft had halted, he reassured the passengers and ordered them to leave the burning plane in an orderly manner. Helping a woman Red Cross worker to a safe distance from the crash, he returned to the burning plane in complete disregard for his own safety to make certain that all passengers had been safely evacuated. His heroic conduct, performed under trying conditions and at great danger to himself was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.