Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Soldier’s Medal

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Platoon Sergeant [then Sergeant First Class]

    Regiment:

    8th Cavalry Regiment

    Division:

    1st Cavalry Division

    Action Date:

    May 4, 1962

    Department of the Army, General Orders No. 60 (October 12, 1962)

    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 Platoon Sergeant [then Sergeant First Class] Roger D. Anderson, United States Army, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy as a member of the 2d Platoon, Company A. 1st Battle Group, 8th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division, on 4 May 1962, in Korea. While working as a member of a minefield detail, a Korean soldier of the Korean Augmentation to the United States Army, accidentally stepped into a minefield cluster, exploding one of the mines which severed his leg, and caused him to fall within other live mines in the cluster. Upon hearing the explosion, Sergeant Anderson rushed to the area, and, fully aware of the extreme danger to his own life, voluntarily and promptly participated in the hazardous rescue operation. After probing, locating, and disarming the mines in the area and reaching the severely wounded Korean, he quickly applied first aid and discovered that the injured soldier was lying on top of a live mine. Realizing the imminent danger of detonation in attempting to remove the mine from beneath the victim, he undauntedly started the harrowing and dangerous task. He held the wounded man’s body with one hand to prevent him from moving and exploding the mine and fearlessly and skillfully extracted the mine and continued his work until all mines in the cluster were located and disarmed. He then capably assisted in evacuating the wounded soldier from the minefield. Sergeant Anderson’s unhesitating, efficient and heroic action in the face of grave danger saved the life of this Korean comrade and reflects great credit upon himself and the military service. (This award supersedes so much of General Order Number 75, Headquarters 1st Cavalry Division, dated for June 1962, as pertains to the award of the Army Commendation Medal to Sergeant Anderson for meritorious achievement on for May 1962.)