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 (Coast Artillery Corps) William E. Thigpen, United States Army, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy, while serving with Coast Artillery Corps, National Guard of the U.S., in the rescue of a number of enlisted men from a burning motor truck at Dania, Florida on 23 July 1938. When a government truck collided with a loaded civilian gasoline truck and was saturated with gasoline, it immediately burst into flames, trapping inside the seven enlisted men who had been riding therein and who had been rendered unconscious by the impact of the collision. On observing the plight of the helpless men in the wrecked truck, Captain Thigpen, with utter disregard of his personal safety, promptly forced his way into the blazing vehicle despite the imminent danger of being trapped therein himself, and with the assistance of a comrade, removed the seven unconscious men to safety, thereby saving the lives of all but one, the driver who died as a result of the collision. The heroism displayed by Captain Thigpen on this occasion reflects great credit upon himself and the military service.