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 Staff Sergeant Charles W. Michaelis (ASN: 16040391), United States Army Air Forces, for heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy of the United States. While serving with the 32d Materiel Squadron, ELEVENTH Air Force, on 1 June 1942, after the plane, of which he was crew chief, crashed on Mt. Redoubt, Alaska at 8,000 feet altitude. Upon regaining consciousness fifteen hours later, Sergeant Michaelis made the injured pilot and co-pilot as comfortable as possible and set out to secure aid. Although cut and bruised and injured, and in spite of a severe fall during the course of his descent of the mountain, Sergeant Michaelis succeeded in reaching the seashore. It was only after five days of further hardships that he was successful in attracting the attention of a fisherman who brought him out to where he could send assistance to the disabled men. His actions reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Army Air Forces.