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 Staff Sergeant Willie D. Norris (ASN: 6402924), United States Army Air Corps, for heroism, not involving actual conflict with an enemy, displayed while serving as Chief Armored with the 20th Bombardment Squadron, General Headquarters Air Force, displayed at Langley Field, Virginia on 31 August 1936. Staff Sergeant Norris and Sergeant Wayne M. Musser set and installed the time fuses on six large experimental flares, hung them from the bomb bay racks of an airplane, and withdrew the safety pins from the flares. Hearing a noise diagnosed as the time fuse functioning, Staff Sergeant Norris directed that they (Sergeant Musser and Sergeant Norris) unlatch the ticking flare and carry it to a place of safety. Staff Sergeant Norris held the flashlight while Sergeant Musser unlatched the ticking flare and ran with it in his arms toward the flying field. He reached a point about 20 feet from the bomb bay when the flare exploded shooting the burning flare back toward the airplane under the left wing near the fuselage where the intense heat ignited the wing. The heroic and timely action of Staff Sergeant Norris prevented the possible loss of human life and undoubtedly great destruction to valuable Government property.