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 Stephen W. Cryer, United States Army, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy at Fort Ord, California on 11 August 1970. On that date Private Cryer was serving as a pit instructor on the High Explosive Court of the Hand Grenade Range at Fort Ord, California. During the conduct of training that day a trainee in Private Cryer’s pit froze and would not throw his grenade on command from the tower. The trainee had already raised the grenade safety lever allowing the striker arm to go forward. This caused the grenade to become armed, leaving only four and one half seconds until detonation. Realizing the serious danger that the live grenade presented to the trainee and the other personnel in the pit area, Private Cryer, without hesitation or regard for his own personal safety, took the following action before the grenade detonation. First he physically tried to remove the grenade from the trainee’s hand and dispose of it. The trainee, however, refused to relinquish his grip on the live hand grenade. He then pulled the trainee to the front of the pit and forcefully slammed the trainee’s hand on the edge. This action caused the trainee to release the grenade and it rolled over the edge into the impact area. Still feeling that the grenade posed a danger to the trainee, Private Cryer threw the trainee into the safety trench located behind the pit and covered him with his own body to protect him from the flying shrapnel. When the first two grenades, that the other trainees in the pit area had thrown, exploded, approximately two-thirds of Private Cryer’s body was exposed. By his courageous action and humanitarian regard for his fellow man, in the dedication of his service to his country, Private Cryer has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Army.