Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Soldier’s Medal

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Staff Sergeant

    Regiment:

    4th Coast Artillery

    Action Date:

    October 6, 1931

    War Department, General Orders No. 2 (1932)

    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 Richard Merrit (ASN: 6730381), United States Army, for heroism, not involving actual conflict with an enemy, displayed while serving with Headquarters Battery, 4th Coast Artillery, by endangering his life in rescuing an unidentified Panamanian boy from drowning on the mud flats of Panama Bay off the shore of Fort Amador, Canal Zone on 6 October 1931. Sergeant Merrit while on the shore noticed that this boy had become mired in the silt and was sinking rapidly. Realizing that prompt action was necessary in order to save the boy’s life as the tide had just turned to flood, Sergeant Merrit, accompanied by two comrades, with the aid of planks and rope, proceeded out into the deep mud and with much difficulty succeeded in reaching the boy and bringing him safely to shore.