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 Sergeant Gordon F. Willis (ASN: 6583323), United States Army Air Forces, for heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy of the United States while serving with the 18th Fighter Squadron, ELEVENTH Air Force, following a collision of a fighter aircraft with a caterpillar tractor at the landing field at Fort Randall, Alaska, 23 July 1942. He helped extract the unconscious body of the pilot from the burning aircraft, thereby saving the officer’s life. This reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Military Service of the United States.