Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Soldier’s Medal

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Sergeant [then Private First Class]

    Batallion:

    72d Tank Battalion

    Division:

    2d Infantry Division

    Action Date:

    January 1, 1951

    Headquarters, 2d Infantry Division, General Orders No. 392 (August 3, 1951)

    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 [then Private First Class] John R. Miller (ASN: RA-25288704), United States Army, for heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy of the United States as a member of the Medical Detachment, 72d Tank Battalion, 2d Infantry Division, in action on 1 January 1951, near Yongdong-Po, Korea. On this date, Sergeant Miller was attached to a tank company being transported by rail to the Seoul area. While the train was stopped on a rail siding, a soldier was struck by a train traveling on the next track. The injured soldier attempted to crawl under the wheels of the moving train. Sergeant Miller rushed to his side and struggled to pull the man to safety. During the struggle Sergeant Miller was also struck by the train, but succeeded in holding the man free until the train had passed. Realizing the dangers of struggling with a delirious man who might have thrown him beneath the train’s wheels, Sergeant Miller risked his life in a successful attempt to save another man’s life. The courage displayed on this occasion by Sergeant Miller reflects great credit upon himself and upholds the highest traditions of the Military Service of the United States.