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 Private First Class Ernest A. Duford (ASN: 6138889), United States Army, for heroism, not involving actual conflict with an enemy, displayed while serving with Headquarters Battery, 11th Coast Artillery, at Winthrop Cove, New London, Connecticut, on 6 February 1937. Upon learning that a boy had fallen through the ice at approximately 25 feet from the shore and was in grave danger of drowning, Private Duford, approaching the channel where the ice was thin due to the current, broke through the ice, swam towards the boy breaking the ice as he went along, and succeeded in bringing him safely to shore.