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 Corporal Tien Pham, Army of the Republic of Vietnam, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy as a member of the 86 PF Platoon, Dong Xuan Subsector, at Dong Xuan Subsector Headquarters, Dong Xuan District, Phu Yen Province, Republic of Vietnam, on 29 July 1967. On 29 July 1967 at approximately 0630 hours an ammunition bunker for the 81-mm. mortar, containing a large amount of HE, WP, and illuminating rounds accidentally caught fire at the Dong Xuan Subsector/District Headquarters compound. The fire burned off the powder increments on 82 rounds of mortar ammunition. While this dangerous fire was still burning, Corporal Tien at great risk to himself entered the building a number of times with sandbags and successfully put out the fire before any of the rounds could explode, thereby preventing a major explosion and saving the lives of several of his men and the lives of six American Advisors standing of a few yards away. Only Corporal Tien’s spontaneous action, taken at an obvious risk to his own life, and from which the received minor burns on the neck and head from the blazing powder, saved the lives of many people and presented a serious calamity.