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 Technician Fifth Grade William N. Jones, United States Army, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy as a member of the 2133d Engineer Fire Fighting Platoon (Aviation), 1st Transport Group (Provisional), on 21 February 1945. The Engineer Fire Fighting Platoon was summoned to extinguish a fire on a truck just off the airstrip near the unit operating site. When the fire fighting equipment arrived at the scene of the fire, the truck had been burning for approximately five minutes, and contained 155-mm. projectiles which were in imminent danger of exploding because of the intense heat. Technician Jones, realizing the immediate danger of the situation, without orders and on his own initiative, took a fire hose, climbed onto the bed of the truck, and prevented the shells from exploding by keeping them cool with a spray of water, while other members of the unit extinguished the blaze. His prompt actions and unselfish concern for his own personal safety precluded the loss of considerable life and property in the area. The courageous heroism displayed by Technician Jones in this sudden emergency is in the most cherished traditions of the United States Army, and reflects great credit upon himself and the military service.