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 First Class Lewis G. Cowan, United States Army, for heroism, not involving actual conflict with an enemy, displayed while serving with Company E, 108th Quartermaster Regiment, Illinois National Guard, at Camp Custer, Michigan, 17 August 1936. When a convoy of trucks and a station wagon were being refueled at Camp Custer, a 10-gallon metal drum located on the floor of the station wagon was also being filled. In so doing, an electric spark caused the gasoline in the drum to ignite. Private Cowan, an attendant at the refueling station, with utter disregard of his own safety drove the blazing wagon from the immediate vicinity of his own safety drove the blazing wagon from the immediate vicinity of the other trucks and a large quantity of gasoline to an isolated area, thereby preventing destructive fire, explosions, and the jeopardizing of life and property.