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 Robert W. Shaffer, United States Army, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy as a member of Company A, United States Army School, Europe, on 5 June 1965, in the vicinity of the Gschwand Bridge, Loisach River, Germany. While on a Rod and Gun picnic with other military personnel and their dependents, Sergeant Shaffer heard the screams of alarm from children standing on a footbridge and then saw the nine-year-old son of an American soldier being carried away by the turbulent waters of the flood swollen Loisach River. With full knowledge of the swift current, the extreme depths, and the huge protruding boulders in the cold river, he completely ignored his own safety and jumped into the river in an attempt to recover the child. Although slammed into boulders and driftwood, he fought the treacherous undertow and made a desperate lunge for the drowning boy, missing him by inches as he, himself was swept into a shallow gravel bed where he managed to recover his footing. As he could no longer see the child, he climbed out of the river and ran approximately fifty yards downstream with the intention of jumping back into the river to locate the boy when he collapsed from exhaustion. Then, when partially recovered, he returned to the picnic area and helped organize and conduct a futile search for the missing boy. Sergeant Shaffer’s heroic conduct, perseverance, and profound concern for the welfare of others are in the highest tradition of the United States Army and reflect great credit upon himself and the military service.