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 Captain (Infantry) Richard L. Treas, United States Army, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy in December 1966, in Chun Chon, Korea in saving a nine year old Korean boy from drowning in the ice swollen, turbulent So Yang River. While driving across the So Yang River bridge, at the northern edge of the city of Chun Chon, Captain Treas noticed an excited crowd of people gathering along the bank of the river on the south side of the bridge. Closer observation revealed the object of excitement to be a small Korean child who had broken through the ice encrustation and fallen into the river, clinging for life to a piece of floating ice. Not knowing the thickness of the ice or the depth of the river or the swiftness of it’s current and notwithstanding the fact that he cannot swim, Captain Treas forced his way against the strong current of the turbulent stream, the depth of which often reached his chin. Fending off chunks of ice with sharp and jagged edges, Captain Treas reached the child at midstream and carried him back to safety, aided by Sergeant First Class Kim Myung Kenn, a Korean soldier assigned to Detachment Center, U.S. Army Advisory Group, Korea, who had likewise risked his life by following Captain Treas into the stream in this rescue effort. Upon reaching the banks, Captain Treas delivered the near frozen boy to a Korean National Policeman for immediate evacuation to the nearest hospital for urgently required medical care. Through this act of heroism, Captain Treas reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Army Advisory Group, Korea, and the United States Army.