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 Flentrus Murdock, United States Army, for heroism not involving actual conflict with an armed enemy on 9 June 1969 while serving as a tank driver with Company D, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date on a road march the lead tank detonated a large antitank mine which blew the driver clear of the vehicle and caused the rest of the crew to abandon it. The empty vehicle continued to move toward a nearby village at about twenty miles per hour. Private Murdock climbed onto the command track as it set off in pursuit of the runaway vehicle. As he pulled alongside the tank, Private Murdock leaped onto the back deck. Despite the danger of falling under the tracks, he crawled forward to the driver’s compartment, discovering that the explosion had jammed the controls. Crawling back to the engine, Private Murdock stopped the flow of fuel to the engine and the tank soon halted without causing damage. Private First Class Murdock’s actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.