Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Soldier’s Medal

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Staff Sergeant

    Division:

    Finance Department

    Action Date:

    July 10, 1926

    War Department, General Orders No. 19 (1927)

    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 Staff Sergeant Arlie L. Downey (ASN: R-2226909), United States Army, for heroism, not involving actual conflict with an enemy, displayed while serving with the Finance Department, on 10 July 1926, during the explosions at the Lake Denmark Naval Ammunition Depot, near Dover, NJ Sergeant Downey upon learning that an injured woman was lying in the road near the point where the two heaviest explosions had occurred, accompanied by two other men, proceeded toward that point. While there was made at a time when there was a continuous roar of exploding magazines and when the air was filled with flying shells, stones, and fragments of buildings, and was effected shortly before the third heavy explosion occurred.