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 Specialist Fourth Class Wayne F. Chayer, United States Army, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy as a member of Headquarters and Service Company, 84th Engineer Battalion (Construction), Fort Ord, California, on 2 April 1959, in the vicinity of Spreckels, California. While performing duty as Crane driver-operator on the Decomposed Granite Evacuation Project, Specialist Chayer arrived on the scene and found the 20-ton truck- mounted crane which he operated parked on a steep slope. After determining that the crane was out of gas, he sent a fellow soldier after a bulldozer to tow it. Minutes later the heavily weighted crane started to roll perilously down the mountain. Without hesitation and with complete disregard for his own personal safety, Specialist Chayer jumped into the driver’s compartment of the crane and made a courageous and desperate attempt to stop it. Unable to impede its speed and realizing there were only seconds to spare, Specialist Chayer veered the rolling crane into the side of the mountain and prevented it from leaving the road. This timely action undoubtedly saved the lives of fellow soldiers working in the immediate vicinity and of civilians living in homes at the foot of the mountain. The prompt courage and selfless heroic actions taken by Specialist Chayer in this sudden emergency are worthy of emulation, and reflect distinct credit on himself in the military service.