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] Bertram Smith, United States Army, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy in assisting in rescuing an enlisted man from drowning in Little Neck Bay, Fort Totten, New York, on 18 May 1941. When an enlisted man overturned in a boat about 50 yards from theirshore and was in grave danger of drowning, Sergeant Smith and four other enlisted men, upon seeing the man struggling in the water, with utter disregard for their safety, jumped into the rough water and swam out to him. With great difficulty they succeeded in bringing the unconscious man to shore, where he was revived by means of artificial respiration, thereby saving his life. The heroism displayed by Sergeant Smith on this occasion reflects great credit on himself and the military service.