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 Robert A. Estes, United States Army, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy as a member of Headquarters, 724th Special Forces Group, Airborne, at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, on 30 March 1954. A C-119 aircraft crashed into a mess hall in the area of 77th Special Forces Group, Airborne, trapping the plane crew and mess personnel in the wreckage. Corporal Estes, who was working in an area nearby, heard the crash and immediately ran to the scene of the accident. With complete disregard for his personal safety, Corporal Estes entered the burning aircraft and rescued the injured pilot. Again, with no thought of his personal safety, he reentered the wreckage and assisted in the rescue of the copilot. Hearing a scream from the left side of the aircraft, Corporal Estes immediately crawled under the wreckage in an attempt to rescue the injured person: however he was driven back by the intense smoke and flames. Corporal Estes then manned a fire hose, and again entered the aircraft in an effort to prevent the flames from reaching the fuel tank which contained approximately one thousand gallons of gasoline. The heroism displayed by Corporal Estes in the face of grave danger reflects great credit on himself and the military service.