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 Second Lieutenant (Field Artillery) Vincent H. Allen, Jr., United States Army, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy as a member of Headquarters 548th Field Artillery Battalion, at Lake Ozark, Missouri, on 28 May 1954. Lieutenant Allen, along with his wife and ten other passengers was aboard a boat after there had been heavy storms in the area on the date of the accident. The boat was about 10 minutes out from the dock when a storm struck with great fury causing the boat to capsize in some two or three hundred feet of water. Fully aware of the treacherous tide and the danger that the twisting boat might lurch against him, Lieutenant Allen dived under the capsized boat and broke open a compartment securing life jackets. It was necessary for him to dive under the capsized boat three or four times. He would return to the surface, distribute the life jackets to those survivors still on top of the water and once again dive under the capsized boat for additional life jackets. He further assisted in aiding some of the passengers to a position on top of the capsized boat. After rendering all possible assistance at the immediate scene he advised the survivors that he was swimming ashore to get help. Shortly thereafter the storm subsided and Lieutenant Allen and his wife were picked up a few yards from shore by a rescue boat returning to the dock after picking up other survivors at the scene of the accident. Lieutenant Allen’s prompt, brave, and thoughtful action was undoubtedly a major factor in saving the lives of survivors reflecting great credit on himself and the military service.