The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Staff Sergeant Samuel D. Deeds, United States Marine Corps, for heroism while serving as Squadron Gunnery Sergeant, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Training Squadron 204, 2d Marine Aircraft Wing, on 11 September 2008. Recovering from major abdominal surgery and visiting family members in Emerald Isle, North Carolina, Staff Sergeant Deeds observed three distressed swimmers, two of whom had no flotation devices, caught in a strong offshore rip current. Without regard for his personal safety and current physical condition, he leapt into action at great risk to his life. Despite the cautioned advice of his family members, he pulled off the abdominal brace protecting his surgical sutures from rupture, grabbed a child’s small raft and raced into the strong rip currents. Swimming more than 150 yards, he grabbed the first swimmer whose head was below the water and pulled him up onto the raft. Assuring the rescued swimmer he was going to live and realizing the rip current was pulling them further offshore; he attempted to pull the swimmer against the current for nearly 10 minutes. Exhausted, Staff Sergeant Deeds floated with the rescued swimmer to conserve energy and wait for a now-approaching rescuer on a jet ski. This selfless and quick decision allowed the rescuers to reach the two distressed swimmers moments before one was about top drown. As a result of his efforts, Staff Sergeant Deeds personally saved the life of one and directly contributed to the rescue of two others. By his courageous and prompt actions in the face of great personal risk, Staff Sergeant Deeds prevented the loss of life, thereby upholding the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.