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 Oliver F. Knudsen, United States Army, for heroism involving voluntary risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy, at Fort Rosecrans, California, on 5 November 1943. On that date, a soldier engaged in excavating, was buried in a cave in. Risking their lives, Sergeant Harold Roland and Corporal Marvin Nelson held back the sliding earth with their own bodies, and Privates James N. Henry and Oliver F. Knudsen dug their unconscious companion out. Immediately after the rescue, tons of earth broke from the embankments, filling the excavation from which the soldiers had been removed. The heroism displayed by Private First Class Knudsen on this occasion reflects great credit upon himself and the military service.