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 Sergeant First Class James C. Ryan, United States Army, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy at Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey on 10 December 1969. On that date a comrade had fallen through the ice into Denmark Lake. Sergeant Ryan, who was observing from the shore, immediately recognized that the man was unable to pull himself from the icy water. Sergeant Ryan obtained a tree limb, crawled across 50 feet of thin ice, and, after two attempts, successfully aided him out of water. Totally ignoring the possibility that their combined physical weight might cause the ice beneath them to break. Sergeant Ryan pulled the individual across the ice to the safety of the shore. By his courageous action and humanitarian regard for his fellow man, in the dedication of his service to his country, Sergeant Ryan has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Army.