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 Earle L. Dowd, United States Air Force, for heroism involving voluntary risk of life at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, on 6 January 1972. On that date, Sergeant Dowd rushed to an aircraft which had inadvertently started and had struck a nearby light cart. With complete disregard for his own safety, despite the flying debris and the possibility that the aircraft might overturn, he unhesitantly boarded the aircraft and shut down the engines; thus saving the life of an individual on board and personnel in the area. The exemplary courage and heroism displayed by Sergeant Dowd reflect great credit on himself and the United States Air Force.