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 Richard L. Tilley, United States Army, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy as a member of Company C, 299th Engineer Battalion, Fort Gordon, Georgia, on 1 December 1964, in Aiken South Carolina. Private Tilley was driving through Aiken around midnight when he noticed a home on fire. As he stopped his car at the scene of the fire, a man rushed up to him and told him that a little girl was trapped in a rear bedroom. With complete disregard for his own safety, Private Tilley entered the burning dwelling through the bedroom window, searched through dense smoke for the child, and found her unconscious from smoke inhalation. He quickly picked her up and succeeded in backing out of the window and placing the child on the ground moments before he was overcome from the extreme exposure to the smoke. By the time he recovered, the child been rushed to a hospital where she was revived. Private Tilley’s prompt actions, heroic conduct, and voluntary risk of his own life are in the highest traditions of the United States Army and reflect great credit upon himself in the military service. [This award supersedes the award of the Army Commendation Medal to Private Tilley for an act of heroism on 1 December 1964 as announced in General Orders Number seven, Headquarters, United States Army School/Training Center, Fort Gordon, Georgia, dated 20 January 1965.]