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 Lieutenant Colonel (Field Artillery) Robert R. Gilbert (ASN: 0-78849), United States Army, for heroism not involving actual conflict with an armed hostile force: Lieutenant Colonel Gilbert distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 10 November 1967, while serving as Senior Liaison Officer to the 9th Republic of Korea Infantry Division in the Republic of Vietnam. Colonel Gilbert acted as an aerial observer in an attempt to make an immediate assessment of the damage caused by Typhoon Frieda to lines of communications and military installations in the NinhHoa area. Upon receipt of information that installations were flooded and a number of persons stranded, he assumed mission command of the helicopter and conducted an aerial reconnaissance of the area. The flight was completely voluntary on the part of Colonel Gilbert and entailed great risk since it was made at low altitude through extremely turbulent weather. At the Lam Song Training Center, he observed five stranded Vietnamese civilians in danger of being swept into the raging torrent. He directed the helicopter to hover above their location while he assisted the crew in bringing the people aboard and then placing them on higher ground. Again Colonel Gilbert sighted six Vietnamese cut off from safety, and directed the pilot to land in a soft hazardous area and assisted the crew in rescuing them. He then observed two Republic of Vietnam soldiers struggling in neck deep water in a swollen stream and directed the helicopter to hover inches above the water while the crew members formed a human chain. He kneeled out on the skids with complete disregard for his own safety, and pulled the soldiers aboard. Colonel Gilbert’s courage, devotion to duty and humanitarian action, resulted in the rescue of a total of twenty-two Vietnamese men, women and children from certain tragedy. Colonel Gilbert’s heroic actions were in the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.