Dick Hanscom edits the Alaskan Token Collector & Polar Numismatist. With permission, we're republishing this excerpt of an article on the Department of Commerce Gold Medal from the March 2025 edition. Thank you! -Editor

Mr. Wheeler was born Dec. 31, 1921 in Kotzebue, to Orlando and Carrie Wheeler, the fourth of seven children. He served in the U.S. Army Infantry from Dec. 11, 1942, to Oct. 17, 1945, in the 1st Combat Intelligence Platoon during the Aleutian Campaign. He was awarded the Pacific Theater Medal, Bronze Star and Good Conduct Medal. During the early 1950s, he was awarded a Presidential Medal of Heroism by President Dwight Eisenhower for rescuing stranded Eskimo hunters with his airboat. Mr. Wheeler served as a former home-police patrolman and worked with the Civil Aeronautics Administration/Federal Aviation Administration in Nome and Tanana from 1945 to 1982, when he retired in Nome.

Floyd Wheeler of the CAA here who rescued two King Island Eskimos Frank Pushka and Tommy Alasuk a couple weeks ago when they were adrift on an ice floe about 15 miles off-shore, has been given a letter of commendation by the CAA for heroic service under hazardous conditions, according to reports.

The natives, who were spotted by an MAFB plane, were unable to use the rubber craft dropped them, due to the strong north wind. Wheeler went out in a small boat with an outboard motor and rescued the men in about an hour, but due to the strong northerly wind and rough sea took about 5 hours getting back.

An announcement was made yesterday by R.L. Hall, station manager for the C.A.A. here that Floyd Wheeler is to be awarded a gold medal by the Department of Commerce from the Employee Award Board for exceptional Service...

The highly prize award is made annually to Department of Commerce employees. Floyd Wheeler has been with the C.A.A. since May 1946, and resides in Nome with his family. He will be sent by plane, probably next Sunday, stated Mr. Hall, to Washington, D.C. to receive the award February 14...