Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Soldier’s Medal

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Private

    Regiment:

    15th Infantry

    Action Date:

    July 20, 1937

    Decorations U.S. Army 1862 – 1926, Supplement 2 (1939)

    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 Arthur J. Brockway (ASN: 6552320), United States Army, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy while serving with Headquarters Company, 15th Infantry, at East Station, Tientsin, China, on 20 July 1937. In conjunction with the movement of the 3d Battalion, 15th Infantry, from Camp Burrowes, Chinwangtao, China, to American Barracks, Tientsin, China, a freight car carrying machine guns, ammunition, and other valuable United States Government property arrived in the railroad freight yard at East Station, Tientsin, China, at the time Chinese and Japanese troops were engaged in battle for possession of that station. A guard of enlisted men which was posted in the freight car was isolated and cut off from all outside communication. Private Brockway was a driver of one of the motor vehicles of a detachment which removed the guard and the property from the freight car to the American compound. During this operation, Private Brockway and the detachment of which he was a member were subjected to sporadic rifle, machine-gun, and infantry mortar fire and were exposed to bombs from airplanes engaged in the bombing of nearby buildings. By his heroic conduct in face of danger, Private Brockway aided materially in preventing the possible loss of human life and the destruction of Government property.