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 Fourth Class Malini Tia (ASN: US-56419026), United States Army, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy as a member of AMEDS Company, Brooke General Hospital, Brooke Army Medical Center, on 15 December 1967. He displayed quick thinking and great courage at the scene of an automobile accident by entering a direct, burning, smoke-filled automobile, saving the lives of two children who were trapped in the backseat of the two-door vehicle. He did this voluntarily, with complete disregard for his own safety. Upon arriving at the scene of the accident he heard a little girl crying ‘Mommy, Mommy!’ from inside the vehicle. He reached through the flames and pulled one child to safety then tried to reach the other child. It was impossible to free the second child, because her foot was caught in the wreckage. The thick smoke and intense heat prevented Specialist Tia from getting into the car with the child to find the obstruction; thinking quickly, he threw himself under the car and reached up into it, found her foot, and loosened it. At the same time, a fellow soldier took the child by the shoulders and lifted her out of the vehicle. Specialist Tia took the little girl in his arms and held her himself while she was carried by a Military Police vehicle to General Hospital. There he stayed with her for five hours, assisting with x-rays and subsequent treatment. Specialist Tia’s courageous action was a nice tradition of valor and reflects great credit upon himself, the Army Medical Service, and the United States Army.