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 Rubien C. Wood (ASN: RA-14392395), United States Army, for heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy of the United States as a member of Headquarters Battery, 82d Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion (Self-Propelled), 2d Infantry Division, in action in the vicinity of Sokkagae, North Korea on 25 August 1952. On that date, while delivering supplies to an outpost position on “Old Baldy”, Private Wood observed a squad of Korean Service Corps soldiers fording a treacherously swift stream by use of a wire hand guard. With the water chest high, they had to devote their full attention and energy to hold on to the wire. Suddenly, one of the men lost his footing and was swept away. By the time the soldier’s head appeared in the swirling current, Private Wood, without thought of personal safety, had plunged into the stream and was swimming in his direction. Private Wood reached the soldier just as he was about to go under again. The tremendous effort in swimming to the shore was such that Private Wood was barely able to pull himself and the soldier from the water, but waving help aside, he climbed aboard his vehicle and ordered the driver to get the still unconscious man to an aid station. The heroic actions of Private Wood reflect great credit upon himself and the military service.