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 Technical Sergeant Billy W. Bassett, United States Air Force, for heroism involving voluntary risk of life while driving through a local residential area on 18 March 2010. On that date, he noticed excessive smoke billowing from a housetop. Sergeant Bassett took the initiative and confirmed the smoke was other than everyday chimney smolder. In an attempt to alert the homeowners, Sergeant Bassett knocked multiple times on the front door with no response. Peering into an open garage entry door, he found himself engulfed in smoke. Sergeant Bassett immediately contacted emergency responders and reported the fire. Next, he ran to the back of the home and opened the kitchen door where he discovered a woman in need of assistance. The homeowner had found herself overwhelmed in an attempt to fight the fire and was unable to reach an exit. Sergeant Bassett swiftly directed her to a window she could escape through, and after assisting her from the house, rapidly checked her for injuries while waiting for the paramedics’ arrival. Again seizing the initiative, Sergeant Bassett returned to the burning home and located a garden hose. He continued working to subdue the fire until firefighters arrived. Emergency responders arrived shortly after and extinguished the fire. Despite the personal risk, Sergeant Bassett’s decisive actions clearly saved the woman’s life, her home and her pets. The exemplary courage and heroism displayed by Sergeant Bassett reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.