Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Soldier’s Medal

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Private First Class

    Action Date:

    November 25, 1938

    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 Private First Class Eugene E. Skidmore (ASN: 6642630), United States Army, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy, while serving with 1st Platoon, 5th Tank Company, in saving valuable Government property from destruction in a burning building at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana, on 25 November 1938. When a rapidly spreading fire forced the evacuation of a garage of a tank park from which all vehicles, except one tank, housed therein had been removed, Private First Class Skidmore, with utter disregard of his personal safety, voluntarily entered the smoke-filled and blazing building, and despite the danger of suffocation and of being trapped by a possible collapse of the burning superstructure, crawled about 25 feet along the floor and reached the remaining tank. Maneuvering the heavy vehicle through the obscurity of the swirling smoke which limited visibility to approximately 3 feet, Private First Class Skidmore, skillfully avoiding collision with the interior posts and wall of the building which probably would have caused the flaming roof to collapse upon himself and the vehicle, drove the valuable tank out of the building, thereby saving it from destruction or serious damage. The display of fearlessness and devotion to duty by Private First Class Skidmore on this occasion reflects great credit upon himself and the military service.