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 Second Lieutenant Raymond A. Drake, United States Air Force, for heroism involving voluntary risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy, on the morning of 19 October 1951 at Oshima Island, Japan. On that date, Lieutenant Drake witnessed a Japanese being washed overboard from a low pier jutting into the ocean. Without regard for personal safety, Lieutenant Drake jumped fully clad into the chilly water and grasped hold of the drowning man. Although the current swept him further out into the ocean, Lieutenant Drake held on to the man until a rowboat was dispatched to rescue both of them. Lieutenant Drake’s courage, and quick-thinking prevented the death of a Japanese national, and reflected great credit upon himself, the Far East Air Forces, and the United States Air Force.