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 Chief Warrant Officer James L. Mills, United States Army, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy as a member of the United States Army Quartermaster Research and Engineering Field Evaluation Agency, Fort Lee, Virginia. Chief Warrant Officer Mills was at home when his young son told him that a neighbor’s little boy had fallen through the ice of a nearby pond. Although only partially attired, Chief Warrant Officer Mills reacted instantly and ran barefooted to the pond which he knew to be over his head in depth. Knowing that he was not a good swimmer by normal standards, he disregarded his own personal safety and raced across the thin ice to rescue the child. Before he reached the youngster, the ice broke beneath his weight and plunged him into the icy water where he discovered the submerged, motionless body of another child. He then grasped each child firmly and swam and struggled to the shoreline, breaking the ice before him with his chest and arms. Upon reaching the edge of the pond, he handed the conscious child to a neighbor, and ignoring his own cuts, bruises and exhaustion, promptly proceeded to apply artificial respiration to the apparently lifeless child. Through his diligent efforts, the child finally regained consciousness, and both children recovered from their ordeal after treatment at a hospital. Chief Warrant Officer Mills’ heroic action at this emergency is in the highest traditions of the United States Army and reflects great credit upon himself and the military service. [This award supersedes the previous award of the Army Commendation Medal to Chief Warrant Officer Mills for heroism on 9 January 1963 as announced in General Orders Number 10, Headquarters, United States Army Test and Evaluation Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, dated for February 1963.]