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 Wilson P. O’Brien, United States Army, for heroism involving voluntary risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy, in rescuing a man from drowning in the East River, New York City, on 10 February 1942. Seeing a man struggling in the swift current of the East River, Private O’Brien, with utter disregard of his own personal safety, jumped into the river, filled with floating cakes of ice, and with the aid of ropes thrown to him by a civilian, succeeded in bringing the drowning man to the shore, thereby saving his life.