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 John E. Northrop, United States Army, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy in the course of rescuing a fellow soldier at Parsberg, Germany on 1 August 1968. During this time Specialist Northrop’s unit was assigned the task of unloading armored personnel carriers from railroad flat cars. One of the vehicles accidentally lurched backward and began to roll, leaving both Specialist Northrop and a fellow soldier directly in its path. Instead of removing himself from the area of danger, Specialist Northrop moved toward the soldier and pushed him completely off the flat car. The commission of this brave and unselfish act very possibly saved the life of a fellow soldier, but it caused specialist Northrop, himself, to be critically injured as a result of being pinned between the oncoming vehicle and another armored personnel carrier behind it. Specialist Northrop’s willingness to sacrifice his own well-being for the benefit of another is in the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and his country.