Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Soldier’s Medal

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Staff Sergeant

    Batallion:

    8th Engineer Battalion (Construction)

    Division:

    1st Cavalry Division

    Action Date:

    March 6, 1963

    Department of the Army, General Orders No. 43 (September 27, 1963)

    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 Staff Sergeant Salvatore A. Scanella, United States Army, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy as a member of Company A, 8th Engineering Battalion (Construction), 1st Calvary Division, Eighth United States Army, on 6 March 1963, in Korea. Sergeant Scanella unhesitatingly volunteered to traverse a mine field to rescue a soldier who was seriously wounded by a mine explosion. During more than one hour of extremely hazardous efforts in clearing a lane to the injured soldier, Sergeant Scanella and his comrades located and disarmed numerous mines. When he and the other members of the rescue party had advanced to within approximately twenty meters of the injured soldier, a helicopter lowered a sling in an attempt to airlift him from the dangerous area. Observing that the soldier was too weak to tie himself securely to the sling and was in danger of falling or rolling onto other mines, Sergeant Scanella, with complete disregard for his own personal safety, rushed through the remaining distance of the un-cleared mine field, and assisted him into the sling. Sergeant Scanella’s heroic action, devotion to duty, and deep concern for a fellow soldier are in the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on himself and the United States Army. (This award supersedes the award of the Army Commendation Medal to Sergeant Scanella for heroism on 6 March 1963, in Korea, as announced in General Orders Number 84, Headquarters, Eighth United States Army, dated 15 May 1963.)