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 Chief Warrant Officer William J. Pickett, United States Army, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy heroism while serving as Material Assistant, Battery D, 1st Missile Battalion (NIKE_HERCULES), 65th Artillery, Naha Air Base, Okinawa on 26 May 1959. When a fire occurred during a joining operation of the warhead of a Nike-Hercules missile, Warrant Officer Pickett immediately cleared the area of personnel and, after reporting the incident to proper authority, proceeded without delay to the exclusion site where the missile was being prepared. Together with three other members of the command, Warrant Officer Pickett assisted in removing the hatch covers and was met by thick billowing smoke from the access doors, making it difficult to locate the source of the fire inside. After discovering the fire, despite great danger of a possible detonation, he assisted in disconnecting, extinguishing and removing the burning cable and eliminated the grave threat to the safety of all personnel in the area. Warrant Officer Picket’s prompt actions, unselfish concern for his own personal safety, and calm presence of mind in this spontaneous emergency averted possible injury to personnel and damage to Government property and material, reflect the utmost credit upon himself the military service.