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 Corporal Leo F. Jerome (ASN: 6099599), United States Army, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy, while serving with Headquarters Company, 14th Infantry, in rescuing two enlisted men from drowning in Gatun Lake, Panama Canal Zone, on 25 November 1939. When their small sailboat capsized in a lake about a mile from the nearest shore, Corporal Jerome and his two enlisted companions, who had been sailing therein, were thrown into the rough water. Realizing that his companions were unable to swim to shore, Corporal Jerome, with utter disregard of his personal safety, and despite the fact that he, himself was not a strong swimmer, unhesitatingly struck out for shore to obtain help, leaving his two companions clinging to the overturned boat. Making his way with difficulty through the rough water, studded with submerged tree stumps, Corporal Jerome swam to shore where he persuaded a civilian to paddle him in a small native canoe back to the scene of the accident. Constantly fighting to prevent their frail craft from being capsized, or swamped in the rough water, Corporal Jerome and his companion finally reached the two exhausted and benumbed soldiers as they were on the point of losing their hold on the overturned sailboat, and took them into the canoe, thereby saving their lives. The initiative and courage displayed by Corporal Jerome on this occasion reflect great credit upon himself and the military service.