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 Private First Class Leroy C. Bartling (ASN: US-55173421), United States Army, for heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy of the United States as a member of an ordnance recovery company, in Seoul, Korea. In the early morning hours of 21 November 1952, Private Bartling learned that a fire had broken out in a building occupied by members of his company. At the risk of his own life, he climbed a ladder to the second floor and entered the burning building. When a soldier was discovered overcome by smoke in one of the sleeping rooms, Private Bartling assisted two comrades in an attempt to lower the unconscious man to the ground from a window. Finding that this was impossible, he helped to drag the asphyxiated soldier to a second window which opened onto an adjoining rooftop. Climbing through the opening, he grasped the unconscious soldier as he was passed to him and helped lower him to safety. The heroism displayed by Private Bartling on this occasion was instrumental in saving the life of a fellow soldier and reflects the highest credit upon himself and the military service.