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 Staff Sergeant James D. Woodward, United States Air Force, for heroism involving voluntary risk of life at Nha Trang Air Base, Republic of Vietnam, on 6 February 1970. On that date a fire had destroyed two city blocks of Nha Trang City and was rapidly approaching 179 buildings in the United States Air Force Cantonment and the United States Air Force Long Van areas. Upon arriving at the scene of the conflagration, Staff Sergeant Woodward took his firefighting line and positioned himself directly ion front of the rapidly advancing fire in an attempt to extinguish it before it could reach the Air Force buildings. The exemplary courage and heroism displayed by Staff Sergeant Woodward reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.