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 First Lieutenant (Field Artillery), [then Second Lieutenant] Donald L. Donner, United States Army, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy as a member of the 538th Field Artillery Battalion, Fort Carson, Colorado, on 11 August 1954. Lieutenant Donner extinguished a fire in an M-48 tank at a fueling point near the battalion motor shop where a fire had started while a tank was being refueled. All efforts to put out the blaze had failed and all personnel, including the crew of the tank, had retreated to a safer distance, fearing an explosion. At this time Lieutenant Donner arrived with a CO2 fire extinguisher, and, in the face of previous unsuccessful efforts to extinguish the blaze, and the possibility of an explosion, Lieutenant Donner, with total disregard for his life and personal safety, approached the fire and quickly put it out. This act saved the Government thousands of dollars in loss of equipment and averted possible injury to personnel in the vicinity, reflecting credit on himself and the military service.