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 Staff Sergeant [then Sergeant] August Aparo (ASN: 36655712), United States Army, for heroism not involving actual conflict with the enemy while serving with Company L, 3d Battalion, 222d Infantry Regiment, 42d Infantry Division, on 12 April 1945, near Schweinfurt, Germany. When Sergeant Aparo saw a boat loaded with four Russians, one a young boy, capsize about 25 yards from the American side of the Main River, he unhesitatingly went to the aid of the young boy who was struck on the head by the boat and was being carried downstream by the swift current. Fighting against the strong current, he succeeded in bringing the boy to the vicinity of the bank where, because of exhaustion, he held on to the brush at the water’s edge until comrades could rescue them both from the river. Sergeant Aparo’s heroic action in saving the drowning boy exemplify the highest traditions of the service.