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 First Lieutenant (Ordnance Corps) William P. Bock (ASN: OF-106926), United States Army, for heroism not involving actual conflict with an armed hostile force: First Lieutenant Bock distinguished himself by exceptionally heroic actions not involving actual conflict with an armed enemy on 29 March 1968, while serving with headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 3d Battalion, 6th Artillery, near Plei Bruk Ja Reh in the Republic of Vietnam. Upon entering the battalion operations center on the above date, Lieutenant Bock monitored a radio distress call from the battalion’s reconnaissance patrol. A fragmentation grenade had exploded at the patrol’s pick up point, causing several severe causalities. Within moments, Lieutenant Bock and a relief force were on their way to aid the stricken patrol. Upon his arrival, Lieutenant Bock discovered a three quarter ton truck filed with dead wounded men. He immediately deployed a small reaction force and the few survivors of the patrol on a defensive perimeter around the damaged vehicle. After assisting in covering the remains of one soldier, Lieutenant Bock obtained a knife and began to cut away the bloodied clothes of a seriously wounded soldier lying on the bed of the truck. At this time the medical sergeant, in moving rucksacks and weapons from the bed of the truck, discovered two grenades with their handles and pins missing. Realizing the imminent danger and knowing full well that even a slight disturbance might cause the grenades to detonate, Lieutenant Bock and the medical sergeant removed their protected vests and placed them over the grenades. Knowing that the armored vests would only slightly reduce the destructive power of the grenades, Lieutenant Bock remained by the head of the wounded soldier, assisting the medic to the best of his ability. When the medical evacuation helicopter arrived, he assisted in lifting the wounded soldier onto a stretcher and into the helicopter. His assistance helped to sustained the life of the soldier until the evacuation was completed. Lieutenant Bock’s heroic actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon his and the United States Army.