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 Corporal [then Private First Class] Joseph A. Perrotta (ASN: RA-12301733), United States Army, for heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy of the United States while serving with Company D, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division, in action in Korea. On 24 March 1951, in the vicinity of Uijongbu, Korea, a communications jeep engaged in laying wire struck a land mine, blowing the occupants out of the vehicle and setting it on fire. Corporal Perrotta, seeing that the clothes of one of the wounded men were burning, dashed from his position to the scene of the accident and carrying the stricken soldier down a nearby embankment, smothered the flames with a blanket, saving the man’s life. Seconds later, the gas tank and several boxes of ammunition in the wreckage exploded, indicating that Corporal Perrotta had acted at exactly the right moment. The heroism and quick thinking displayed by Corporal Perrotta reflects great credit upon himself and the military service.