The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pride in presenting the Soldier’s Medal (Posthumously) to Private Raymond John Snell, Australian Imperial Forces, for heroism at Sydney, Australia, while serving with the 6th Australian Machine Gun Battalion, in action on 16 May 1943. A ship was driven ashore and wrecked on a reef at Bass Point. The seas were running high. Knowing full well the dangers confronting him, Private Snell fearlessly went to the rescue of sailors and soldiers aboard the distressed vessel. While so engaged he disappeared and was presumably drowned.