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 Sergeant Wayne M. Musser (ASN: R-915150), United States Army Air Corps, for heroism, not involving actual conflict with an enemy, displayed while serving with the Armament Section, 20th Bombardment Squadron, General Headquarters Air Force, displayed at Langley Field, Virginia on 31 August 1936. Sergeant Musser and Staff Sergeant Willie D. Norris, chief Armorer, set and installed the time fuses on six large experimental flares, hung them from the bomb bay racks of an airplane, and withdrew the safety pins from the flares. Hearing a noise diagnosed as the time fuse functioning, Sergeant Musser unlatched the ticking flare and ran with it in his arms toward the flying field. He reached a point about 20 feet from the bomb bay when the flare exploded, shooting the burning flare back toward the airplane under the left wing near the fuselage where the intense heat ignited the wing. The pilot having sprained his ankle in his attempt to escape from the burning airplane, lay dangerously near the flames, Sergeant Musser, seeing his plight, assisted in carrying him to safety. The heroic and timely action of Sergeant Musser prevented the possible loss of human life and undoubtedly great destruction to valuable Government property.