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 Thomas D. Porter (ASN: 6704533), United States Army, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy while serving with Company B, 1st Quartermaster Regiment, in rescuing a woman from drowning in New York Bay on the night of 21 April 1938. Responding to cries for help, Private Porter unhesitatingly and with utter disregard of his own safety climbed a high wire fence topped with several strands of barbed wire, plunged into the cold, treacherous waters of New York Bay, and went to the rescue of a woman who was struggling in the water about 25 feet from Pier #4 of the New York Port of the Embarkation, Brooklyn, New York, in grave danger of drowning. With much difficulty, hampered by the darkness and the strong tide, he succeeded in bringing her to a place of safety and administered artificial respiration until help arrived, thereby saving her life.