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 Sergeant William M. Collins (ASN: 6630743), United States Army Air Corps, for heroism, not involving actual conflict with an enemy, displayed while serving as Air Mechanic, First Class, 67th Service Squadron, at Randolph Field Texas on 25 January 1932. During a welding operation in the engineering shop, the high-pressure acetylene cylinder failed to function, resulting in a disrupted connection between the hose and welding torch, which in turn caused the free stream of gas issuing from the hose to become ignited and a dangerous explosion to become imminent by the rapid burning of the hose leading to the cylinder. Witnessing the accident, Sergeant Collins, disregardful of his own personal danger, ran to the cylinder, closed it valves, and extinguished the fire, thereby preventing an explosion of the gas cylinder and serious injury to personnel in the building and damage to Government property.