The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Airman’s Medal to Master Sergeant William T. Witten, United States Air Force, for heroism involving voluntary risk of life at Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina, on 23 March 1994. On that date, Sergeant Witten immediately responded to an F-16D crash site, which destroyed a C-141. He provided initial direction of responses as the accident was happening. He called for tow teams and Aerospace Ground Equipment drivers to clear aircraft and equipment from the site of the burning wreckage. Sergeant Witten directed and assisted in the hook-up and tow of a C-141B that was within minutes of becoming engulfed in flames, evidenced by the paint bubbling and peeling off the aircraft and trapping 80 firefighters battling the blaze of another C-141B twenty feet away that was already totally involved in flames. Through the choking smoke and intense heat, Sergeant Witten provided direction to the safe areas for equipment and aircraft, away from the carnage. Throughout the ordeal, he was continuously exposed to smoke and heat hazards from burning wreckage, as well as debris from exploding munitions and rupturing fuel tanks. The exemplary courage and heroism displayed by Sergeant Witten reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.