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 Sergeant [then Corporal] Robert Riddle, Jr., United States Air Force, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy as a member of the Installations Squadron, 57th Airdrome Group, 57th Fighter Wing, on 16 May 1948, at Elmendorf Field, Alaska. He was on duty with a crash crew summoned to fight a fire that broke out on a refueling truck, which was servicing a P-51 fighter-type aircraft. Fanned by a gusty wind, the flames were endangering approximately twenty P-51’s in the nearby vicinity and had engulfed two airplanes fully armed with rockets, which were parked on the flight line. Sergeant Riddle, with complete disregard of his life and personal safety, jumped into the burning truck, drove it approximately 500 feet away, and continued to assist in bringing the fire under control. Sergeant Riddle’s quick and heroic action prevented serious injury and loss of life among the personnel fighting the fire and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service.