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 Ronnie A. Papizan (ASN: RA-14709368), United States Army, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy on 19 October 1961, in Korea while assigned to Company A, 13th Signal Battalion, 1st Category Division. While assisting in the installation of a telephone drop wire, Private Papizan observed that a soldier working on a nearby pole had come in contact with overhead high voltage lines and could not free himself. Fully aware that he too would come in contact with the high voltage through the body of the trapped soldier, he unhesitatingly, and with complete disregard for his own personal safety, climbed the pole and grasped the feet of the victim, causing both bodies to fall free of the pole and power lines. Although the rescued soldier was safely hurled to the grass below, Private Papizan sustained severe injuries when his head struck a concrete sidewalk. Private Papizan’s exceptional courage and heroic action in the face of grave personal risk saved the life of a fellow soldier, and reflect great credit on himself in the military service. (This award supersedes so much of General Orders Number 149, Headquarters 1st Cavalry Division, dated 28 November 1961, as pertains to the previous award of the Army Accommodation Medal to Private Papizan for meritorious achievement on 19 October 1961.)