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 (Ordnance Department) Joel Grant Holmes, United States Army, for heroism, not involving actual conflict with an enemy, displayed on 11 July 1926, during the explosions at the Lake Denmark Naval Ammunition Depot, near Dover, NJ. Captain Holmes, one of a party of eight men, entered the burning area at 6:30 a.m. to search for First Lieutenant George W. Bott, Jr., United States Army, who was known to have been in the powder factory at the time of the first explosions late the preceding afternoon. Throughout the search they were in close proximity to burning magazines and exposed to frequent explosions of large-caliber shells and small-arms ammunition. While there was still possibility of more serious detonations and at the risk of their lives they located the body of Lieutenant Bott and with great difficulty succeeded in removing it from the wreckage to a point outside the danger zone.