U.S. Marines Corps Lt. Col. Andrew Nicholson presents a Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal to Sgt. Aidan Blansfield during a ceremony at the base theater on Camp Schwab, Okinawa, Japan, Jan. 12, 2024. U.S. Marines Corps Lt. Col. Andrew Nicholson presents a Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal to Cpl. Jacob Cogswell during an award ceremony at the base theater on Camp Schwab, Okinawa, Japan, Jan. 12, 2024. The ceremony was held to award Sgt. Aidan Blansfield and Cpl. Jacob Cogswell with Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals for life saving acts while on pre-deployment leave. Both Marines awarded rescued a civilian from drowning. Nicholson, a native of South Carolina, is the battalion commander and Blansfield, a native of Rhode Island, is a machine gunner, both with of 2d Battalion, 2d Marine Regiment. 2/2 is currently forward deployed in the Indo-Pacific under 4th Marine Regiment, 3d Marine Division as part of the Unit Deployment Program. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Eduardo Delatorre)