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 Preston Busby Paull (ASN: 6552283), United States Army, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy, while serving with Detachment Quartermaster Corps, in rescuing civilians from drowning during a flood at Riverside, California, on the night of 2 March 1938. When the dam of a lake burst releasing a mass of water into an already flooded area, the lives of a large number of men, women, and children marooned in trees and vehicles in the path of the onrushing flood were endangered and several were drowned. Private Paull, a member of a rescue party in a truck which had twice entered the flooded area on an ill-defined water-covered highway, with utter disregard of his personal safety left the truck and entered the deep, swift, debris-filled waters, alone brought one civilian marooned in a tree to safety, and later assisted the other members of the rescue party in removing to the truck all of the remaining refugees in the vicinity, thereby saving their lives. The heroism displayed by Private Paull on this occasion reflects great credit upon himself and the military service.