(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Staff Sergeant Spencer A. Howell, United States Army, was awarded the Soldier’s Medal for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy, while serving with the 507th Air Ambulance Company on 29 March 2004, in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM in Iraq. Staff Sergeant Spencer Howell and Specialist Eric Burns had both returned from Al Taqaddum Air Base on an urgent medical evacuation when they witnessed the collision of two helicopters. After reporting the collision the two men raced to the crash site, finding one of the helicopters upside down, the engines still running and with electrical power still applied to the armed missiles, rockets and onboard ammunition. Disregarding the danger to themselves, the two men went to the wreckage and removed the pilots from the first helicopter and then, even as fire crews arrived and began spraying retardant foam, courageously entered the overturned helicopter to free the two pilots and carry them to safety.