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 Corporal Leon J. Kuchinskas (ASN: 31343444), United States Army Air Forces, for heroism at a bomb dump at a base in the Marianas on 31 March 1945, while serving with the 482d Bombardment Squadron, 505th Bombardment Group, TWENTIETH Air Force. Corporal Kuchinskas, while carrying gout his duties with an unloading crew was involved in a violent explosion of an aerial mine in a nearby revetment. The center mine of a trailer load of three had been armed and exploded killing one man instantly, seriously injuring two more, throwing one unexploded mine one hundred feet, where it crashed into Corporal Kuchinskas’ truck. With great courage and utter disregard for personal safety he dashed through the flames into the burning revetment to attempt the rescue of two injured men who, with their clothing burning, were wandering around in shocked and dazed condition. Disregarding the probable explosion of other mines he aided in removing the burning clothing from the injured men and rushed them to a nearby dispensary. As a result of immediate medical attention these two men eventually recovered. His valiant efforts, coolness, and quick thinking in the face of extreme danger reflect great credit upon himself and the Army Air Force.