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 Specialist Fifth Class Albert L. Shepard, United States Army, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy as a member of Company D, 2d Medium Tank Battalion, 69th Armor, Fort Benning, Georgia, on 13 December 1962, at Columbus, Georgia. Specialist Shepherd was awakened by screams outside his quarters and discovered that his neighbor’s mobile home was on fire with a small boy and girl trapped inside. The little girl was lying unconscious near the doorway of the trailer and was easily rescued by the other neighbors who had arrived on the scene, but the dense smoke within the trailer prevented the rescue of the little boy. Without regard for his own personal safety and the imminent danger of a gasoline explosion, Specialist Shepherd unhesitatingly and courageously entered the trailer to search for the boy. Despite the choking fumes and blinding smoke, he succeeded in locating him and carried him out of the burning trailer within moments before it exploded. Specialist Shepherd’s heroic action is in the finest traditions of the military service and reflects distinct credit on himself and the United States Army.