The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Coxswain Leon S. Bednarczyk (NSN: 2072251), United States Navy, for courageous and meritorious service during the defeat and capture of the German Submarine U-505 off Cape Blanco in French West Africa on 4 June 1944. Coxswain Bednarczyk was one of the key men in the salvage parties which took over the damaged submarine in sinking condition after the enemy had attempted to scuttle her. He worked below decks for many hours making the submarine seaworthy at a time when the danger from booby traps or from foundering was imminent. He personally assisted in jettisoning a damaged enemy torpedo, an operation which could have resulted in disaster at any moment. In addition, through his knowledge of foreign languages and through his brilliant intelligence work among the captured Nazis, he obtained technical information without which the submarine probably could not have been saved. Coxswain Bednarczyk’s conduct reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.