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 First Lieutenant (Air Corps) James O. O’Neal, United States Army Air Forces, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy as Traffic Officer of the 1885th Army Air Forces Base Unit, on 4 April 1947, at the scene of an airplane crash in the fjord at Naranarsauak, Greenland. With utter disregard for his safety, he swam several hundred feet in the iceberg-filled water, carrying a fire ax, to the almost completely sunken AT-6 aircraft. He voluntarily exposed himself to the freezing temperature of the water and air for an extended period of time while assisting in the release of the injured pilot from the cockpit and then carried him to shore. Through his action, the life of the pilot, endangered by injury and drowning, was saved, and by this act of selfless courage, Lieutenant O’Neal brought great credit to himself and the military service.