(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Technical Sergeant George W. Howland, United States Air Force, was awarded the Soldier’s Medal for heroism involving voluntary risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy, on 21 July 1951 when he risked his life to rescue a fellow airman from drowning in the Sumida River at Asakuse-bashi, Tokyo, Japan. A group of persons was preparing to depart from a Japanese fireworks display in Sergeant Howland’s motorboat. The force of starting the motor lurched the boat and threw the airman into the river. His call for help was drowned amidst the noise of many vessels carrying celebrating Japanese nationals. Sergeant Howland saw that the airman was unable to swim and realized that he would be crushed by the cruising boats. As the airman floundered between huge barges and Japanese boats, Sergeant Howland dived into the water and pulled the drowning man to the boat behind, where he was hoisted on board by another airman with the help of two nationals. Sergeant Howland’s courage and skill were responsible for saving the life of a fellow airman, and his quick thinking and devotion to duty reflected great credit upon himself, the Far East Air Forces, and the United States Air Force.