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Headquarters, Department of the Army
General Orders No. 39 - 31 July 1957
Private First Class Charles E. Hailey, Ordnance Corps, United States Army, distinguished himself by heroism on 2 August 1956 at Pusan, Korea. When PFC Hailey received word that a group of people were in distress on a point of land at Heunde Beach, Pusan, Korea, he promptly proceeded to the scene with his commanding officer and other personnel from his unit. He found that a huge wave in the wake of a typhoon had washed several persons into the sea and they were being drowned by the raging surf. PFC Hailey, with the help of several enlisted men, attempted to throw a rope to one of the drowning victims. This required him to climb down a jutting cliff where waves were breaking ferociously against the rocks. Realizing the futility of their efforts, PFC Hailey and the others decided to return to higher ground. As they proceeded up the cliff, one of the waves swept PFC Hailey and a companion off their feet. PFC Hailey pulled himself to safety, sustaining a fractured ankle and a chipped elbow, while his companion was washed off the rocks and drowned in the sea. PFC Hailey's heroic actions in the emergency reflect the highest credit on himself and the United States Army.
Headquarters, Department of the Army
General Orders No. 1 - 8 January 1960
Private First Class John C. Haws, Military Police Corps, United States Army, a member of Eighth United States Army Sentry Dog Detachment, distinguished himself by heroism on 10 July 1959 at Kunsan, Korea. Private Haws was patrolling the POL pipeline on Kunsan Air Base during the hours of darkness when a severe explosion occurred at the pumping station in the vicinity of his patrol. Private Haws hastened to the scene of the blast to find the area engulfed in a rapidly spreading fire fed by high octane gasoline from a ruptured main. Hearing cries for help from the adjacent marsh area, Private Haws, voluntarily, and with complete disregard for his own safety and the danger of intense heat, explosion, and spreading fire, waded into the gasoline covered marsh water and, with the help of a comrade, located and carried a seriously injured airman to safety. He then, with a comrade, commandeered an Air Force vehicle to assist in the evacuation of the injured man to the Base hospital. Private Haws' unselfishness, initiative, and prompt courageous action saved the airman from possible death by drowning or fire from the spreading gasoline-fed flames, reflecting great credit on himself and the military service.
Headquarters, Department of the Army
General Orders No. 9 - 8 March 1966
Private First class Anthony P. Hladki, United States Army, while serving as a member of Company C, 802d Engineer Battalion (Construction), distinguished himself by heroism on the night of 21 July 1965, near Seoul, Korea. Private Hladki was working at a ferry site during a flood of the Han River when he heard screams and saw a Korean girl struggling in the swift current of the river. With complete disregard for his own safety, he rushed into the deep, turbulent stream fully clothed and wearing web equipment to rescue the girl. Through his determination, he succeeded in reaching her and bringing her to the safety of the shore where first aid treatment was quickly administered prior to her rapid evacuation to a local hospital. Private Hladki's deep concern for the welfare of others and heroic and prompt actions in this emergency are in the highest traditions of the United States Army and reflect great credit upon himself and the military service.
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 David A. Hoffman, United States Army, for heroism above and beyond the call on duty on 7 December 1979. While on a civil police patrol in the demilitarized zone near Panmunjom, Republic of Korea, the patrol became disoriented in heavy fog and crossed into an unmarked minefield. In the resulting explosions, one soldier was killed and two injured. Specialist Hoffman distinguished himself, voluntarily risking his life, by moving forward through the extremely dangerous minefield to administer life-saving first aid and carry a critically injured soldier to safety. Specialist Hoffman's heroism is in keeping with the finest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself and the United States Army.
Headquarters, Department of the Army
General Orders No. 49 - 18 September 1957
Private First Class Alfred L. Howard, Infantry, United States Army, distinguished himself by heroism on the night of 22 February 1957, in the vicinity of Seoul, Korea, when the C-124 aircraft on which he was a passenger developed engine trouble shortly after takeoff and crash-landed on a sandbar in the Han River, bursting into flames on impact. Private Howard, with complete disregard for his own life, voluntarily returned to the burning aircraft in search of survivors. He aided in the rescue of an Air Force Sergeant, who was lying near the plane, despite constant danger from the flames and the threat of explosion. After removing the injured man, he continued his rescue work by helping to load survivors on helicopters that had been sent to the area. His repeated trips to the plane constantly places his life in peril and the threat of being swept into the freezing water was imminent. The additional danger created by numerous helicopters hovering overhead seeking landing sites posed a threat of grave personal injury. Private Howard continued his heroic efforts until all had been removed to safety. His prompt and courageous action in the face of extreme danger reflect great credit on himself and the United States Army.
Undated News Clipping - "Private First class Alfred L. Howard, nephew of Mrs. Maggie B. Close, Berkeley Springs, was awarded the Soldier's Medal at a recent review at Fort Knox, Kentucky, for his efforts during a plane crash last February in Korea.
Pfc. Howard, disregarding his own safety, assisted in the removal of a number of wounded men from the crashed and burning C-124 Globemaster which went down between Seoul and Inchon. The plane was flying to Japan from Korea with 159 men aboard when one of the engines exploded four minutes after take-off. The Soldier's Medal is one of the nation's highest peacetime awards. Howard is presently assigned to Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 6th Armored Cavalry Regiment at Ft. Knox."
Headquarters, 2nd Infantry Division
General Orders No. 220 - 20 June 1953
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 Lawrence J. Hurley (ASN: US-51180120), United States Army, for heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy of the United States while serving with Company B, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division, in action on 6 May 1953, in the vicinity of Sachong-Ni, North Korea. While swimming in a river with other members of his company, Private Hurley immediately responded to a cry for help from a comrade who was struggling in the water near the opposite shore. Without hesitation and disregarding his own personal safety, Private Hurley set out across the rushing current to the aid of his comrade who was in serious trouble. The swift, dangerous current had already thwarted the efforts of one would-be-rescuer and by the time Private Hurley reached him, his comrade was unconscious and disappearing under the water. Struggling against the force of the river, Private Hurley grabbed and managed to hold his comrade's head above the water and bring him to safer water where they both were aided to shore by others. The unselfish actions and heroism of Private Hurley saved a soldier's life and reflect great credit upon himself and the military service.