The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Airman’s Medal to Master Sergeant John P. Elskamp, United States Air Force, for heroism involving voluntary risk of life at Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina, on 23 March 1994. On that date, Sergeant Elskamp observed a C-141 engulfed in flames as a result of being struck by a crippled and pilotless F-16, which had impacted the Pope Air Force Base ramp. He rant toward the C-141 to render assistance. Realizing no crewmembers were on board and the aircraft was about to explode, he took a tow vehicle pulling an aircraft ramp fire extinguisher to fight the fires raging in the paratroop staging area. Debris and exploding fuel from the destroyed F-16 had decimated the paratroop staging area occupied by approximately 500 paratroopers preparing for a night airdrop. Arriving at the area, he drug the heavy aircraft fire extinguisher across broken ground and extinguished fires in the burning F-16 fuel cells near critically injured soldiers. He next organized casualty assistance teams among Army personnel to care for the more seriously injured. He then helped other rescuers load critically injured personnel into privately owned vehicles for transport to Womack Army Medical Center. In the midst of the chaos, Sergeant Elskamp removed debris, allowing military and personnel vehicles into and out of the area. He then directed traffic allowing the evacuation of the injured. Without regard to his own safety, Sergeant Elskamp moved weapons and put out small fires near live ammunition. The exemplary courage and heroism displayed by Sergeant Elskamp reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.