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 (Infantry) Raymond L. Viers, United States Army, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy on 11 April 1959. While on leave at Capstone Mountain, Georgia, Lieutenant Viers volunteered to assist a Georgia State Park employee to rescue and evacuate a 19-year-old airman from Turner Ai Force Base, Albany, Georgia. The airman had lost his footing on the slippery moss on the steeply sloping mountainside, tumbled down the steep face of Capstone Mountain and become lodged on a ledge some 600 feet below. With profound courage and without regard for his personal safety, Lieutenant Viers tied himself onto a one inch rope and was lowered over the treacherous cliff. Together with the Park employee, first aid was administered, after which Lieutenant Viers climbed hand over hand up the vertical face of the cliff to secure a stretcher on which to evacuate the injured airman. The ascent was accomplished without tie-in to the belay rope. Upon obtaining a stretcher, Lieutenant Viers tied himself into the belay rope and again was lowered over the cliff at the same time guiding the stretcher down the mountainside to the injured man. Because of excruciating pain, it was necessary for the two men to physically restrain the injured man until he was tied into the stretcher. Lieutenant Viers and the park employee guided the stretcher up the side of the mountain. The two men then ascended the 600 foot cliff under their own hand over hand power. The intrepid calm, firm, and decisive display of great courage on the part of Lieutenant Viers in performing this extraordinary feat in the face of extreme danger and at considerable risk of losing his own life reflects great credit upon himself and the United States Army.