A sailor who died during the course of duty — Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Mark Mayo — will posthumously receive a rare Navy and Marine Corps Medal during his Friday burial service at Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia.
The award will be presented to the sailor’s family, the Navy Times reported.
Mayo, 24, was shot and killed in late March by a civilian, Jeffrey Savage, who first disarmed a petty officer on watch and then tried to shoot him. Mayo jumped in between Mr. Savage’s gun and the unarmed watchman and intercepted the bullets, the Navy Times said.
The Navy and Marine Corps Medal is dubbed the non-combat Medal of Honor, and it’s only awarded in the rarest of circumstances. Military decorations expert Doug Sterner said it has only been handed out 5,000 to 10,000 times, the Navy Times reported.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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