The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Soldier’s Medal to Specialist Fifth Class Charles R. Hawkins, United States Army, for heroism not involving actual conflict with an armed enemy on 27 August 1969, while serving as an armored cavalry assault vehicle commander with Troop I, 3d Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date an armored vehicle slipped of a bridge that had suddenly collapsed. Specialist Hawkins plunged into the stream where the vehicle was upside down. He swam until he found one man and dragged him to the bank. He then aided another man who had just emerged from the vehicle who told him that there was one more soldier pinned inside. Diving underneath the track, Specialist Hawkins found the driver hanging unconscious in the driver’s hatch and in danger of drowning. He pulled the man out before the vehicle settled further into the mud and insured that he was treated promptly, saving the man’s life. Specialist Five Hawkins’ actions were in keepings with the finest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.