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 Nguyen Van Ba, Army of the Republic of Vietnam, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy on the morning of 17 November 1967, while attached to the Intelligence Squad, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 5th Battalion, 60th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division, on a mission to investigate a suspected enemy location. As the patrol was crossing a fast flowing river, the radio-telephone operator lost his footing in the darkness on the unstable bridge and tumbled into the Swift current. Completely disregarding his own personal safety, Private Ba immediately plunged into the river, struggled against the treacherous current to reach the position where the drowning man had gone under. Private Ba quickly found the victim and pulled him to safety with all of his equipment. Private Ba’s heroic actions are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and his unit and the Army of the Republic of Vietnam.