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 John R. Slade (ASN: US-53094604), United States Army, for heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy of the United States while serving with Headquarters, 3d Infantry Division, in action against the enemy in Korea. On 21 July 1952, Private Slade, a supply handler at the 3d Division Post Exchange at Wang Sib Nyi, Korea, was detailed to supervise the transfer of supplies from a box car to the Post Exchange warehouse. Immediately after his arrival at the railroad siding there was a tremendous explosion of the gasoline that had leaked from a broken pipe, approximately twenty five yards from Private Slade’s position, which runs to the main tank of the Seoul Area Command Drum Refill Plant. Fires and explosions quickly spread over the surrounding area. In anticipation of greater explosions, all Post Exchange personnel withdrew to safety and began to notify fire authorities. Noticing that the Post Exchange truck had been left behind, Private Slade fearlessly dashed back through the area to get the truck despite the shouts of his fellow-workers of the impossibility of saving it. Reaching the truck, he calmly and skillfully drove it from the burning inferno to safety. His instantaneous actions and untiring devotion to duty were responsible for saving a valuable military vehicle and possibly prevented the total destruction of the Seoul Area Command Petroleum, Oil, and Lubrication Dump. Private Slade’s outstanding heroism reflects great credit upon himself and the military service.