The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Coast Guard Medal to Machinery Technician Second Class Michael R. Franco, United States Coast Guard, for extraordinary heroism while assigned to the Redeployment Assistance Inspection Detachment (RAID) at Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan on 31 October 2010. He was instrumental in saving the life of a U.S. Army soldier who was being brutally attacked, and then safely detained the armed assailant. He and two of his shipmates became aware of a struggle upon hearing violent screams from the victim as she was physically dragged into a container office by the armed assailant. Demonstrating exemplary courage, he immediately rushed to the scene to investigate and to render assistance. He observed that the victim was in imminent danger, as she had been struck in the head with a large rock by the armed man who was preparing to attack her again. Without hesitation or concern for his own safety, he stepped between the victim and her attacker, shielding her from further injury while directing her and a civilian bystander to safety. After ensuring the victim and civilian bystander were no longer in peril, he turned to the attacker, who had drawn his handgun and armed it. He immediately charged the armed man and tackled him while grabbing the loaded weapon and directing the muzzle away from himself and the assailant. Displaying extraordinary composure, he took control of the loaded firearm and handed it to one of his fellow shipmates. He and another Coast Guardsman finally subdued the attacker and restrained him until the Kandahar Air Field International Military Police arrived on scene. Petty Officer Franco demonstrated remarkable initiative, exceptional fortitude and daring in spite of imminent personal danger. His courage and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Coast Guard.