Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Soldier’s Medal

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Specialist Fourth Class

    Action Date:

    June 13, 1959

    Department of the Army, General Orders No. 43 (December 4, 1959)

    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 John E. Wolfe, United States Army, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy as a member of Headquarters Company, United States Army Supply and Maintenance Center, Alaska, on 13 June 1959. While on a camping trip near Palmer, Alaska, Specialist Wolfe observed a car rolling backward into Falk Lake with a woman running and screaming for help alongside of it. The woman slipped and fell and the car plunged uncontrolled into deep water and sank almost out of sight with her two small children inside. Without hesitation or concern for his own personal safety, and despite the danger of possibly being pulled under by the sunken automobile, Specialist Wolfe jumped fully clad into the lake, swam out to the submerged car, dived below the surface of the water, opened a door and, together with a fellow soldier, rescued the two children and brought them safely to shore to their mother. After ascertaining that no one else was inside the automobile, he drove the woman and her two small children to the hospital in Palmer and then returned them to their home. The quick action, personal resourcefulness and unselfish courage displayed by Specialist Wolfe in this sudden emergency are worthy of emulation, and reflect distinct credit on himself and the military service.