The President of the United States of America, authorized by Executive Order 11046, 24 August 1962, takes pleasure in presenting the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” to Sergeant Richard Harold Springman (ASN: 18877136), United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against an armed enemy while serving as a Prisoner of War in South Vietnam during May 1971. He distinguished himself by escaping from an enemy prisoner of war camp. Recognizing that odds of success were slight and if he were recaptured, he would receive severe torture, long periods of solitary confinement, and possible death, Sergeant Springman planned his daring escape carefully, realizing that he was deep in enemy territory. At the time of the escape, he was living in a jungle camp, chained to a tree. He used Sergeant Sexton’s partial plate as a tool to cut his chain. He worked on his chain every free minute, wearing a slot in the chain whereby he could free himself. Every night, knowing there would be a link by link inspection of his chain, he prepared his chain for nearly two weeks by placing mud and pieces of rag in the cuts so as to avoid detection. A few days before the escape, they discovered men saving rice. They searched everyone and checked everyone’s chain, and found nothing. A few nights later, Sergeant Springman waited until it started raining, and then waited until he was checked the first time, and then slipped out the back of the camp. By the time the guards checked again, Sergeant Springman had a half hour head start. Sergeant Springman was recaptured the next afternoon and was forced to wear double chains for over a month. Although he was recaptured, he maintained strong conviction and adherence to the Code of Conduct. The extreme gallantry exhibited by Sergeant Springman was amply illustrated by a fact that so few prisoners ever tried to escape, primarily due to the rigid security measures employed by the enemy. This courageous and gallant escape served more than to merely get him out of the prison camp. More guards were required to try to stop Americans from escaping, enemy troops were diverted from battle duties to search for the escapee, and prisoner morale soared. By his heroic deed, Sergeant Springman demonstrated a great devotion to duty and country and disregarded concern for his own safety, which manifested the highest traditions of the military service.