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Headquarters, 2d Infantry Division
General Orders No. 347 July 23, 1951
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) Donald W. Jackson (ASN: 0-1336068), United States Army, for heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy of the United States as a member of Headquarters Company, 2d Infantry Division, on 1 February 1951 in the vicinity of Wohryon, Korea. Noticing that the tents of the Truck Company next to the Division Command Post were burning, he gathered some men to help extinguish the fire. He succeeded in moving the trucks and trailers away from the burning tents and out of danger. Ammunition and hand grenades in the burning tents began to explode. The fire began to spread from the tents to a Korean building against which numerous drums of gasoline were stacked. Completely ignoring the exploding ammunition, Lieutenant Jackson ran over to the building and began rolling the drums of gasoline away from the fire. Several men joined him to help remove the drums of gasoline. Lieutenant Jackson stayed by the blazing building, unmindful of the exploding ammunition, until all the gasoline was moved out of the danger area, thereby saving government property which was extremely critical at the time, and preventing further explosion, spreading of the fire, and possible injury or loss of life. His coolness and courage reflect great credit upon himself and uphold the highest traditions of the Military Service of the United States.
Headquarters, 3d Infantry Division
General Orders No. 24 - January 12, 1952
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 Sergeant First Class [then Corporal] Arthur K. Johnson (ASN: RA-15255407), United States Army, for heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy of the United States while serving with Headquarters and Service Company, 64th Tank Battalion (Medium), 3d Infantry Division, in action in Korea. On 6 June 1951, a disabled M-46 medium tank caught fire while connected to a tank recovery vehicle in the tank parking yard at Inchon, Korea. Sergeant Johnson, in charge of the tank recovery vehicle, unhesitatingly braved the flaming gasoline in order to mount his vehicle and drive it approximately 50 yards while towing the burning tank. Upon halting the vehicles, flames soared into the air and enveloped the rear of the recovery machine; undaunted, Sergeant Johnson courageously assisted in disconnecting the two bar although ammunition began exploding in the M-46 tank while he worked in the flames. Sergeant Johnson's prompt and heroic actions saved valuable equipment from destruction and reflect great credit upon himself and the military service.
Department of the Army
General Orders No. 72 - September 30, 1954
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 (Field Artillery) David S. Johnson (ASN: 0-974259), United States Army, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy as a member of Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 74th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion, 18th Antiaircraft artillery Group, at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on 5 January 1954. When Lieutenant Johnson was notified that an apartment in the building across from his own was on fire he immediately rushed to the scene of the fire and attempted to enter the burning apartment which was located on the second floor. Being partially overcome by the intense smoke and heat he was unsuccessful in his first attempt and returned to the ground floor for air. With utter disregard for his personal safety he returned to the blazing apartment to make a positive determination that the occupants were either already out or attempt evacuation. He crawled into the apartment and found an unconscious woman on the floor. Unable to stand, owing to the intensity of the smoke and flames, he dragged her and himself out into the hall where he was assisted in the completion of the rescue, removing the victim to a place of safety. The prompt, courageous, and determined action taken by Lieutenant Johnson in the face of grave danger reflects distinct credit on himself and the military service.
Headquarters, 3d Infantry Division
General Orders No. 76 - February 17, 1952
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 Private First Class Earl W. Johnson (ASN: US-53028686), United States Army, for heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy of the United States while serving with Company H, 2d Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division, in action in Korea. On 4 January 1952, the Command Post tent of Company H, 2d Battalion, in position near Manush'on, Korea, caught fire. The highly inflammable canvas burned rapidly and the lives of 3 men who used the tent for sleeping quarters were seriously endangered. Private Johnson, who was on duty at the switch board, realized the acute danger and, without hesitation, dashed into the blazing tent and dragged one of the men to safety. This done, he went back into the fire and pulled the second man outside. Private Johnson's prompt and fearless action, although faced with grave personal danger, saved the lives of two comrades reflecting high credit upon himself and the military service.
Department of the Arm y
General Orders No. 61 - August 18, 1954
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) [then Second Lieutenant] Fal L. Johnson, United States Army, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy as a member of 77th Special Forces Group, (Airborne), at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, on 30 March 1954. A C-119 aircraft crashed into a mess hall in the area of the 77th Special Forces Group (Airborne). Lieutenant Johnson, who was two buildings away from the accident, heard the sound of the crash and ran to the scene. He stopped only long enough to procure a fire extinguisher as he noticed the plane and building both on fire. Immediately and without regard for his personal safety, Lieutenant Johnson entered the burning wreckage to lead in rescue of trapped personnel. When he saw that flames were approaching one of the planes' fuel tanks, Lieutenant Johnson seized a fire hose and without hesitation entered the flaming wreckage and directed a stream of water to prevent the flames from exploding the gas tank. During all this time it was necessary for other personnel to direct water at his feet as the debris on which he was standing was still burning. Repeatedly Lieutenant Johnson entered the flaming wreckage to look for the injured or dead, and remained at the scene of the conflagration until all rescue operations were completed and the fire was fully under control. The heroism displayed by Lieutenant Johnson in the face of imminent danger reflects great credit on himself and the military service.
Department of the Army
General Orders No. 40 - June 4, 1951
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 Sergeant J. T. Jones, United States Army, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy as a member of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 279th Infantry Regiment, on 8 January 1951 at Camp Polk, Louisiana. While acting as an instructor of throwing pits Nos. 1 and 3 on the hand grenade range, he observed a soldier attempting to throw an activated fragmentation grenade, which lodged on a sandbag of pit No. 1. With complete disregard for his safety, Sergeant Jones brushed the armed grenade from the sandbag and pushed the soldier down into the pit so that he would not be injured by the explosion. The soldier started to crawl from the pit and Sergeant Jones again at great hazard to himself tackled and fell upon him, shielding him from the exploding grenade. Sergeant Jones' prompt, determined action in the face of great danger reflects distinct credit on himself and the military service.
Headquarters, Far East Forces
General Orders No. 245 - 28 May 1951
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 Staff Sergeant Roy D. Jones, United States Air Force, for heroism involving voluntary risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy, on 16 December 1950. On this date one of the organizational aircraft returning from Korea with a load of 16,800 pounds of demolition bombs crashed at the end of the runway and nosed up in a steep ravine. Arriving at the scene of the accident, Sergeant Jones and a companion discovered that the number four engine was still running and that gasoline was flowing from the damaged fuel tanks near the hot exhaust stack. Ignoring the imminent danger of an explosion and fire, Sergeant Jones, aided by his companion, entered the engine nacelle through an inspection hole and shut off the flow of fuel to the engine. His prompt and courageous action in preventing an explosion of the bomb load eliminated the possibility of extensive property damage and loss of life. The extraordinary heroism displayed by Sergeant Jones was in keeping with the highest traditions of the service, and reflected great credit upon himself, the Far East Air Forces, and the United States Air Force.
Headquarters, Department of the Army
General Orders No. 85 - 25 September 1951
Lieutenant Colonel Ralph E. Jordan, Artillery, United States Army, a member of the Department of Tactics, United States Military Academy, distinguished himself by heroism on 24 June 1951 at Humarock Beach, Humarock, Massachusetts. His attention was suddenly attracted to two young ladies who were swimming approximately 100 yards off shore, were apparently being carried out to sea by a vicious undertow, and were frantically screaming for help. He immediately ran down the beach and, without hesitation and disregarding the extreme danger from the heavy surf and the strong undertow, plunged in and swam to their rescue. He reached the girls and was in process of bringing the one in greatest need of help toward shore when he was met by the father of the girls in a row boat. The three had secured a grip on the row boat when it became swamped in the rough seas and had started to submerge. The girls' father, screaming that he could not swim, became panic stricken and jumped overboard. Colonel Jordan successfully turned the boat over, got the man safely on top of the boat, started again toward shore with one of the girls, and succeeded in getting her to another boat which had appeared on the scene to assist the stricken group. Upon being towed to shore by means of a rope which had been brought out, Colonel Jordan immediately left the stricken girl in the hands of friends and again braved the surf to assist in completing the rescue of the other two persons. As a result of his gallant endeavors he collapsed on the beach and had to be revived through the use of oxygen, but his alert and heroic action, which was doubtless instrumental in saving the lives of all three from death by drowning, reflects great credit on himself and the United States Army.