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 First Class Junior M. Gurley (ASN: RA-45051772), United States Army, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy as a member of the 24th Reconnaissance Company, 24th Infantry Division, near Simpung-ni, Korea, on 26 November 1951. Sergeant Gurley was in the right front seat of a jeep which was pulling a trailer load of men up an icy, snow-covered road to a forward position. On a steep incline, the vehicle stalled and the driver was unable to brake it. The jeep jackknifed and started sliding backward, the force throwing a soldier under one of the wheels and momentarily paralyzing him. Displaying excellent presence of mind, Sergeant Gurley braced himself in the moving jeep and stuck his right leg out to contact the man’s supine form. Using his leg as a wedge, he dragged the man’s body along the icy road, preventing him from being crushed by the wheel. Although the painful effort taxed his endurance to the utmost and he was in constant danger of being dashed to the ground himself, he continued to hold the soldier inches away from serious injury until the rapidly sliding jeep caught in a rut and stopped on the edge of a precipice. Sergeant Gurley’s heroism, exceptionally quick thinking and selfless devotion to his comrades reflect the greatest credit on himself and the United States Army.