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 Raymond J. Halderman, United States Army, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy on 20 July 1969 while serving as a military policeman at Fort Wainwright, Alaska. During the afternoon of 20 July 1969 Private Halderman noticed a woman climbing up the embankment of the Chena River. Private Halderman left his patrol vehicle to investigate an apparent incident. He learned that a privately owned vehicle driven by the woman and containing a small child had left the roadway, skidded and overturned. The vehicle had entered the water upside down and was completely submerged in the river. Private Halderman immediately issued orders to his patrol partner to call for an ambulance and render aid to the dazed woman. He then ran down the jagged, rocky embankment, tearing his fatigue jacket from his body and dropping his pistol belt. Without regard for his own safety he entered the frigid waters of the Chena River and dove twice below the surface of the water, attempting to locate the vehicle and the four-year-old child that was trapped within. On his second dive he forced himself into the vehicle and successfully brought the unconscious child to the river bank. Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation was immediately applied by Private Halderman and was instrumental in saving the child’s life. The personal courage and resolution of purpose demonstrated by Private Halderman indicate that he placed the life of another individual above his own. Private Halderman’s actions are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon him, his unit, in the United States Army.