Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Soldier’s Medal

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Sergeant

    Regiment:

    109th Infantry

    Division:

    Pennsylvania National Guard

    Action Date:

    March 18, 1936

    Decorations U.S. Army 1862 – 1926, Supplement 3 (1940)

    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 Thomas H. Lynn, Jr., United States Army, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy, while serving with Company K, 109th Infantry, Pennsylvania National Guard, in saving eighteen persons from death by fire or drowning during a flood at Williamsport, Pennsylvania, on the morning of 18 March 1936. On hearing cries for help from a number of people trapped in a burning apartment house by deep flood waters which completely surrounded the building on a level with the second story, thereby cutting off all avenues of escape, Sergeant Lynn and a companion, with utter disregard of their personal safety, went to the rescue in a small motorboat. Despite the danger of their boat being struck and capsized by floating and submerged objects in the swift cross-currents which made navigation hazardous and difficult, and of the danger of explosion of the gasoline of their boat, Sergeant Lynn and his companion made repeated trips to the burning building and evacuated to safety, through the blazing second story windows, the eighteen people who were trapped therein. When the motor of their boat stalled as the last boatload of people was being removed. Sergeant Lynn unhesitatingly plunged into the deep, swirling waters and grasping a fence rail with one hand held on to the boat with the other until help arrived to drag the boat to safety. The heroism displayed by Sergeant Lynn on this occasion reflects great credit upon himself and the military service.