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 (Air Corps) Frederick D. Lynch, United States Army Air Corps, for heroism, not involving actual conflict with an enemy, displayed near Cogar, Oklahoma on 10 July 1936. When a landing was being attempted after a free balloon flight from Fort Sill, Oklahoma, the balloon exploded and burned, causing Captain Lynch, a passenger, to be thrown from the basket. Seeing the other members of the flight trapped in the basket, Captain Lynch, although suffering from slight burns, bruises and shock, disregarded the intense heat and hydrogen gas, plunged into the wreckage, rescued the pilot and, with his assistance, succeeded in extinguishing the flames from the clothing and parachute worn by another passenger.