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 Captain (Air Corps), [then First Lieutenant] Luther B. Anderson (ASN: 0-792914), United States Army, for heroism at Harris Auxiliary Field, Fort Valley, Georgia, on 24 April 1944, when two airplanes crashed and caught fire after colliding in midair. Captain Anderson who was in the control ship rushed to the scene of the accident and immediately attempted to remove one of the occupants of the burning aircraft. Finding the occupant fatally injured, Captain Anderson proceeded to the aid of Aviation Cadet Wilse E. Crain who was trying to extricate Aviation Cadet Wilfred J. Kauffman from the wreckage of the flaming aircraft.