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 First Lieutenant (Armor) Leroy L. Willard (ASN: 0-63313), United States Army, for heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy of the United States while serving with Heavy Tank Company, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division, in action against the enemy in Korea. During the early morning hours of 30 November 1951, while he and his crew were sleeping in their bunker near Wangjing-Myon, Korea, Lieutenant Willard was awakened by a heavy, choking smoke to discover that the bunker had caught afire. Flames had already engulfed the entire front of the bunker and were quickly spreading toward himself and his sleeping crew. Realizing that the fire was beyond control, Lieutenant Willard shouted the alarm to his men, making sure that they were awake and on their way towards the exit. He and two of his men made it safely through the burning exit but the last man became blinded and partly overcome by the smoke and could not find his way through the fire to safety. Hearing the trapped man’s cries for help, Lieutenant Willard completely disregarded his personal safety as he rushed back into the blazing bunker and calmly led the man through the flames and smoke to safety. Lieutenant Willard’s outstanding heroism and untiring devotion to duty were directly responsible for saving the life of a fellow soldier and reflects great credit upon himself and the military service.