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 Richard Ross (ASN: 38415025), United States Army Air Forces, for heroism involving voluntary risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy, at Chatham Field, Georgia, on 28 June 1944. On that date, a B-24 type Army airplane crashed in the night and burned. There was imminent danger of explosion of gasoline tanks. Private Ross, one of a party of four who went to the rescue of the crew, entered the fiercely burning wreckage. While attempting to free trapped members of the crew, he was forced to leave when the oxygen containers exploded, but immediately re-entered and assisted in removing two injured men to safety.