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 First Sergeant Sam W. Butler (ASN: R-326352), United States Army, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy, while serving with Company C, 30th Infantry, during the capsizing of a training raft at American Lake, Fort Lewis, Washington, 10 September 1940. While combat team 30 was engaged in landing operation training, Company C, 30th Infantry, was loading from the training float, a structure built on pontoons, into boats, when the float became unbalanced and tipped over, throwing many men fully clothed and weighted down with equipment into the water in grave danger of drowning. First Sergeant Butler who was in a nearby boat, with utter disregard of his own personal safety, immediately plunged into the water and in turn brought two enlisted men, who had been injured and could not swim safely to the boat. He then repeatedly dived under the raft wreckage and swam around in an effort to locate any other men who might have been trapped there. The heroism displayed by him on this occasion reflects great credit upon himself and the military service.