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 Platoon Sergeant Willie McNew, United States Army, for heroism not involving actual conflict with an armed enemy on 25 March 1970 while serving as a Platoon Sergeant with Troop A, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment in the Republic of Vietnam. On the evening of 25 March 1970 a mortar round exploded in the tube of an 81 mm mortar touching off an explosion which mortally wounded three men of the crew. Despite obvious danger from explosions and flying shrapnel, Sergeant McNew jumped from his vehicle and raced over to the raging inferno only to be blown back through the air. Sergeant McNew, even though wounded, picked himself up and rushed back into the hot metal box, grabbing one man and dragging him away from the exploding inferno to the safety of another vehicle. With shrapnel flying through the air from both 81 mm and 4.2 inch illumination rounds stacked nearby, Sergeant McNew again ran over to the exploding vehicle to see if there was anyone else he could give assistance to. Seeing that everyone had been evacuated or moved to a safe area, Platoon Sergeant McNew finally recovered to a safe area. Platoon Sergeant McNew’s actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.