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 Private First Class Eugene Lane, United States Army, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy as a member of Company B, Signal Overseas Communications Battalion, 8235th Army unit, in the waters of Tsukishima, Japan, on 8 May 1955. Private Lane, while proceeding by vehicle to the Transmitter Station at Tsukishima with two other enlisted men, heard a whistle and noticed a guard at the Transmitter Station gesturing and pointing toward the ocean. Upon arrival at the site indicated by the guard, Private Lane saw two Japanese fishermen, whose boat had overturned in the rough sea, desperately trying to stay afloat in the choppy water. Realizing that the men could not swim and were near exhaustion, Private Lane and another enlisted man immediately dove into the dangerous water and swam to the aid of the drowning men. By assisting the fishermen to keep their heads above water, Private Lane and his companion succeeded in bringing the fishermen to a sea wall where others awaited to assist them. Due to the low tide at the moment and the extreme height of the sea wall, the men had to be dragged out of the water from ashore by means of poles and ropes. The cool and courageous action of Private Lane resulted in the saving of the life of a Japanese fisherman at considerable risk of his own, reflecting great credit on himself and the military service.