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 Master Sergeant Douglas Drew, United States Army, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy as a member of Company H, Airborne Battalion, 1st Student Brigade, on 16 April 1951 at Fort Benning, Georgia. While taking part in a demonstration before the Joint Civilian Orientation Conference No. 8, he voluntarily exposed himself to grave danger in securing the extraction system for the dropping of a 105-mm howitzer and _-ton truck by parachute from an aircraft in flight. Realizing fully the risk involved and the great danger to all personnel of the aircraft, Sergeant Drew moved behind the loaded equipment, removed the reserve parachute, and lay prone on the floor of the ship with head and shoulders outside the plane in the slipstream to recover and reposition the equipment, thus removing a very serious threat to the stability and safety of the aircraft. Had the heavy load broken free while he was behind it, he would have been killed instantly. When the system failed to function the second time, Sergeant Drew repeated the procedure. Sergeant Drew’s prompt and heroic action in the face of extreme danger during this emergency reflects distinct credit on himself and the military service.