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 Major (Field Artillery) John L. Patten (ASN: 0-4010380), United States Army, for heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy of the United States. Major Patten distinguished himself by heroic action and personal bravery on 20 June 1967, at Carenta Base near Duc Pho, Republic of Vietnam. Upon being informed that a fire at the ammunition supply point was endangering his battalion ammunition dump, he immediately secured a vehicle and rushed to the burning dump. Stopping his vehicle some 500 meters from the exploding ammunition to insure the safety of his driver, he continued on into the area. Major Patten immediately recognized the imminent danger of the entire ammunition storage area exploding with tremendous destructive force. With complete disregard for his own safety, he rushed from tent to tent clearing the troops and warning all of the impending danger. Major Patten then went to a parking area about 200 meters away and cleared that area of amassed troops as the fire had started to explode heavy howitzer shells and small arms ammunition. He personally directed many vehicles, to include gas tankers, from the area. Within minutes of his action, and while only he, five men, and two vehicles remained, the ammunition dump erupted in a tremendous explosion expelling rockets and fragments over the entire area. The concussion was so great as to knock Major Patten and his men to the ground and collapse sand bag bunkers 2,000 meters away. While rockets and fragments fell around him, Major Patten led the men from the danger area and successfully cleared the beach of all personnel he could see. As he moved back, he stopped all vehicles from entering the danger area and directed a roadblock be emplaced to insure no one would enter the burning, exploding inferno. By his strong determination, leadership, keen judgment, and personal courage he was directly responsible for the saving of many lives and preventing considerable equipment from being destroyed. Major Patten’s heroic actions are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, Task Force OREGON, and the United States Army.