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 Sergeant Richard L. Dickinson, United States Army, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy as a member of the First Field Army Advisory Team, Army Section, Military Assistance Advisory Group, Taiwan, on 4 September 1960. While fishing off a sandbar in the vicinity of Nan-Liao Harbor, Hsinchu, Taiwan, Sergeant Dickinson observed that a Chinese national who had made several unsuccessful diving attempts to retrieve a bait basket which had fallen overboard several yards offshore was being swept helplessly out to the open sea by the strong current. Without hesitation or concern for his own personal safety Sergeant Dickinson plunged fully clad into the water, swam out against the turbulent waves, seized the floundering victim and began the long swim back fighting the rapid and dangerously choppy channel current. After covering approximately two-thirds of the distance back to shore, exhausted and weighted down by the victim and their water-logged clothing, Sergeant Dickinson sank to the bottom of the channel. Refusing to give up in the face of overwhelming odds, he surfaced, continued his struggle which finally delivered the drowning man to safety, and then collapsed, completely exhausted, on the beach. The heroic actions, unselfish courage and strong determination displayed by Sergeant Dickinson in saving the life of another at the risk of his own represent heroic achievement in the most cherished tradition of the United States Army, and reflect distinct credit upon himself and the military service.