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 Captain (Infantry) Francis J. Colantuno (ASN: 0-5219970), United States Army, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy as a member of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2d Battalion, 36th Infantry, 3d Armored Division (Spearhead), on 3 September 1966 at Hohenfels, Germany. Captain Colantuno distinguished himself by disarming an emotionally disturbed soldier that had threatened the lives of several officer and enlisted men of his battalion with an object he claimed to be a fragmentation grenade. Extremely upset because he had been restrained in a straitjacket earlier that day, the soldier proceeded through the motor pool with the announced intent to take a vehicle, unintelligibly ordering everyone in the area to leave him alone or he would end it for all. When it became apparent that attempts to reason with him would be to no avail, Captain Colantuno, without regard to his personal safety, moved close to the irrational soldier, caught him off balance and knocked him into a drainage ditch. His fall caused him to release the firing mechanism on the grenade, which turned out to be a magnesium trip flare. The soldier, a large and extremely strong individual, attempted to push the flare into Captain Colantuno’s face as the two were struggling in the ditch. Although two other persons were then attempting to assist in the disarming of the irrational soldier, he was able to hold onto the flare until it burned his hands. Captain Colantuno’s actions definitely prevented injury to many bystanders and damage to nearby military vehicles which were combat loaded, and he undertook those actions without regard to possible injury or loss of life in the face of the common belief that the deranged soldier held a grenade, from which he had removed the safety pin. Captain Colantuno’s heroic actions are in the keeping with the finest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.