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 Raymond Garcia, Jr., United States Army, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy as a member of Battery B, Howitzer Battalion (8″), 17th Artillery, in the vicinity of the village of Sarang-Ni near the Han Tan Chon River in Korea, on 24 May 1960. While undergoing unit practice for the annual battery test, Private Garcia was informed that a field mine head accidentally exploded and seriously injured three Republic of Korea civilians. When a request for assistance was made in behalf of the victims, Private Garcia immediately volunteered his services. With full knowledge that the area at the scene of the explosion contained armed mines, and despite the existing possibility of a mine detonating in the field at any time, he moved back and forth across the mined field and administered first aid until a helicopter arrived to evacuate the injured Korean nationals to a hospital. He remained with the victims of the explosion and accompanied them to the hospital in the helicopter. The complete disregard which Private Garcia displayed for his own personal safety, and the unselfish and courageous action which he manifested by risking his life in this dangerous emergency are in the most cherished traditions of the United States Army, and reflexes can credit upon himself to military service.