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 Sergeant Victor R. Durrance, United States Army Air Forces, for heroism involving voluntary risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy while serving with the 61st Bombardment Squadron, 39th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy), TWENTIETH Air Force, in enemy waters on 14 – 15 May 1945. The B-29 aircraft of which Sergeant Durrance was Tail Gunner was forced to ditch in hostile waters while returning to its base in the Mariana Islands from a combat mission against the Japanese Empire. Leaving the ditched airplane by way of the rear escape hatch, he was paddling his one-man life raft to join the others when he saw another crew member floating on the water unconscious and bleeding. With utter disregard for his own safety, Sergeant Durrance plunged into the turbulent sea, swam fifteen yards through the waves to his companion, and dragged him to safety aboard his own life raft. Discovering that the unconscious man’s life jacket had not fully inflated, Sergeant Durrance took off his own and tied it around the injured man. He then pushed and paddled the one-man raft to a point where the injured man could be taken aboard a larger raft and given first aid. In the hours of darkness that followed, Sergeant Durrance assisted the leader in lashing their rafts together enabling them to survive the violent rainstorms and heavy seas which prevailed during the night. Sergeant Durrance’s heroic disregard for his own safety, his outstanding presence of mind and courage reflect great credit on himself and the Army Air Force.