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 George E. Topper (ASN: 6780328), 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, 6 October 1931. Sergeant Topper, while on the shore, noticed that the 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 flood, Sergeant Topper, 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.