Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Soldier’s Medal

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Second Lieutenant (Infantry)

    Batallion:

    1st Battalion

    Regiment:

    50th Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    2d Armored Division

    Action Date:

    July 5, 1963

    Department of the Army, General Orders No. 3 (January 28, 1964)

    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 Second Lieutenant (Infantry) Harley C. Davis, United States Army, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy as a member of Company B, 1st Battalion, 50th Infantry, 2d Armored Division, at House Creek Range, Fort Hood, Texas, on 5 July 1963. As Officer-in-Charge, Lieutenant Davis was positioned on the firing line to direct the live-fire phase of a flame thrower training exercise. Suddenly, a spot on the firing line near him became engulfed in a billowing cloud of flames as a firer panicked, stumbled, and turned the flame-thrower into the wind as he fell backwards onto the ground with the weapon still spewing it’s deadly fuel. With complete disregard for his own personal safety, Lieutenant Davis remained in the inferno of burning fuel to wrest the flame-thrower from the helpless firer, subjecting himself to excruciating pain inflicted by the passage of the flame across his face. He then ignored his own serious injuries, rolled the blazing man out of the conflagration and, using his own body, smother the flames of the burning fuel on his fellow soldier. Lieutenant Davis’ heroic action is in the highest tradition of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself and the military service. [This award supersedes award of the Army Commendation Medal for meritorious service from September 1961 to September 1963 as announced in General Orders Number 156, Headquarters, 2d Armored Division, Fort Hood, Texas, dated 24 September 1963.]