THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY 
Washington

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the NAVY AND MARINE CORPS MEDAL posthumously to ROBERT O. CLARK, AIR CONTROLMAN THIRD CLASS, UNITED STATES NAVY, For service as set forth in the following CITATION:

"For heroic conduct in saving the life of a fellow member of the aircrew while serving on board a Navy WV-2 aircraft which crashed at sea, approximately twenty-five miles north of Kahuku Point, Oahu, T.H., on 23 December 1957.  In the ensuing moments after the crash, CLARK, although severely injured and burned, rushed to the aid of one of the crew members, who was trapped by the debris in the flaming wreckage, removed a radar console, which was pinning the victim's leg, and handed him a life jacket.  In performing this act, CLARK sustained additional burns which greatly reduced his chance of survival.  After abandoning the aircraft, he was given aid and support in the water by other members of the crew.  Although he did not survive the accident, CLARK  was directly instrumental in saving the life of the crewman who was trapped in the plane.  His outstanding courage and self-sacrificing efforts in behalf of another were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."

                                                             For the President,

                                                                           Secretary of the Navy

Letters were also received from the following:  William V. Davis, Jr., Vice Admiral, U.S. Navy; B.E. Moore, Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy; The Secretary of the Navy (signature handwritten and indecipherable) Edwin S. Lee, Jr., Captain, U.S. Navy