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Department of the Army
General Orders No. 7 - February 24, 1956
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pride in presenting the Soldier's Medal (Posthumously) to Sergeant First Class Clifford F. America, 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, 13th Engineering Battalion, Combat), in Korea, on 24 June 1955. During the heavy summer rains, eleven American soldiers stranded in a tank, and their tank retriever in the middle of the Han Tan River were in imminent danger of being submerged by the rapidly rising and turbulent water. Fully aware of the hazards involved, and that the river banks downstream were very steep and harbored land mines, Sergeant America voluntarily organized and led an assault boat crew into the swirling water in an effort to rescue the marooned men. The raging, torrential river and swift current swept the boat approximately 700 yards downstream where it struck a large rock, foundered and capsized, and Sergeant America drowned. Although unsuccessful in his heroic attempt to save the lives of the eleven soldiers, Sergeant America's consummate gallantry and supreme sacrifice set an inspiring example of valor to all who observed him, reflecting utmost credit on himself and upholding the noble traditions of the military service.
Headquarters, Department of the Army
General Orders No. 60 - 12 October 1962
Platoon Sergeant Roger d. Anderson, (then Sergeant First Class), United States army, a member of the 2d Platoon, Company A, 1st Battle Group, 8th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division, distinguished himself by heroism on 4 May 1962, in Korea. While working as a member of a minefield detail, a Korean soldier of the Korean Augmentation to the United States Army, accidentally stepped into a minefield cluster, exploded one of the mines which severed his leg, and caused him to fall within other live mines in the cluster. Upon hearing the explosion, Sergeant Anderson rushed to the area, and, fully aware of the extreme danger to his own life, voluntarily and promptly participated in the hazardous rescue operation. After probing, locating, and disarming the mines in the area and reaching the severely wounded Korean, he quickly applied first aid and discovered that the injured soldier was lying on top of a live mine. Realizing the imminent danger of detonation in attempting to remove the mine from beneath the victim, he undauntedly started the harrowing and dangerous task. He held the wounded man's body with one hand to prevent him from moving and exploding the mine and fearlessly and skillfully extracted the mine and continued his work until all mines in the cluster were located and disarmed. He then capably assisted in evacuating the wounded soldier from the minefield. Sergeant Anderson's unhesitating, efficient, and heroic action in the face of grave danger saved the life of his Korean comrade and reflects great credit upon himself and the military service. (This award supersedes so much of General Order Number 75, Headquarters 1st Cavalry division, dated 4 June 1962, as pertains to award of the Army Commendation Medal to Sergeant Anderson for meritorious achievement on 4 May 1962.)
Headquarters, Department of the Army
General Orders No. 16 - 10 April 1962
Sergeant Charles A. Aumiller, RA13657980 (then Specialist Fourth Class), United States Army, distinguished himself by heroism on 11 July 1961 in Korea, while a member of Company B, 1st Battle Group, 31st Infantry. During a mobility exercise with his unit, Sergeant Aumiller saw a group of Korean soldiers bathing in the rain-swollen Hantan River. One of the Korean bathers was swept into a 500-yard stretch of rapids with jagged rocks and boulders protruding. Upon hearing the victim's cries for help, Sergeant Aumiller, unhesitatingly, and without regard for his own personal safety, jumped into the raging river to rescue the Korean soldier. With great efforts and determination, he successfully reached and held the shocked victim above the water level. As the two men wee being hurled through the rapids, Sergeant Aumiller caught hold of a concrete piling and pulled the Korean to safety on a large boulder. They were pulled from the water by other American soldiers who tied rile slings together to use as rope. Sergeant Aumiller's courageous and heroic action in voluntarily risking his own life to save the life of an allied soldier reflects great credit on himself and the military service. (This award supersedes award of the Army Commendation Medal as announced in General Orders Number 115, Headquarters 7th Infantry Division, dated 27 October 1961.)