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 Second Lieutenant (Armor) Thomas M. O’Sullivan, United States Army, for heroic actions while assigned to Company C, 1st Battalion, 72d Armor, at Camp CASEY, Republic of Korea, on 17 May 1983. At approximately 1630 hours while supervising the maintenance of his platoon of tanks in the battalion motor pool, Lieutenant O’Sullivan heard a loud explosion and saw flames billowing from the tank commander’s and gunner’s hatches of an M48A5 tank. Instinctively realizing that a main gun round had exploded within the tank and knowing that a soldier was working inside, Lieutenant O’Sullivan leaped aboard the burning tank even though he knew the tank was fully combat-loaded with 54 main gun rounds, and that other explosions were not only possible but probable. Lieutenant O’Sullivan started fighting the fire with a portable fire extinguisher and put out the intense flames in a matter of minutes. He then entered the extremely hot and smoky turret to rescue the injured soldier. Despite the smoke and intense heat inside the turret, Lieutenant O’Sullivan and another soldier carefully and quickly extracted the injured soldier from the still dangerous tank turret and immediately moved him to a safer location where medical personnel could administer first aid. Lieutenant O’Sullivan’s personal bravery under extremely dangerous circumstances, his courageous efforts in preventing further explosions, and his heroic rescue of the mortally wounded soldier were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 2d Infantry Division, and the United States Army.