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 Master Sergeant Otis Spillman, United States Army, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy while serving with the United States Army Advisory Mission with the Imperial Iranian Gendarmerie on 25 March 1964 in Poohan, Iran. While a passenger in the second helicopter of a fleet which carried an Iranian General and members of an inspection party, Sergeant Spillman observed that the pilot of the lead helicopter had dismounted from the helicopter without disengaging the main rotor while he assisted the General in debarking the aircraft. Sergeant Spillman then saw the helicopter become airborne; the pilot struck down by the whirling blades; the helicopter hovering in the air completely out of control; and the General thrown to ground in a prone position with the machine hovering above him. Realizing the danger to the General, to the other passengers in the uncontrolled helicopter, and to the crowd of villagers that had gathered, Sergeant Spillman unhesitatingly leaped from the helicopter in which he was riding and, with complete disregard for his own personal safety, ran to regain control of the hovering helicopter. Despite the extreme hazard involved, he ducked under the whirling blades, the tips of which were passing only a few feet from the ground, gained the controls, and succeeded in safely landing the helicopter although he was not a pilot. His prompt, courageous, and voluntary actions averted the loss of life and property, and him the lasting gratitude of all concerned, and materially in enhanced the prestige of the United States military forces with the host country. Sergeant Spillman’s heroic conduct and deep concern for his fellow man are in the highest traditions of the United States Army and reflect distinct credit upon himself than to military service.