The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Richard R. Roland, United States Navy, for heroism while serving on board U.S.S. SAN DIEGO (APS-6) on 17 December 1976. After egress from a helicopter which made a forced landing at night in the Mediterranean Sea and realizing that a portion of the crew were still in the sinking aircraft, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Roland, with complete disregard for his own personal safety and fully aware of the dangers involved, dove down and re-entered the totally dark and sinking aircraft in an effort to save his fellow airmen. His courageous and prompt actions in the face of great personal risks in attempting to rescue the trapped crewmen in the sinking aircraft reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.