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 Thomas W. Gammon, United States Army, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy on 23 June 1955 at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. On that day Battery A, 88th Airborne Antiaircraft Battalion, of which he is a member, was engaged in a training parachute jump. After his exit from the plane, and he had opened his parachute, another paratrooper who had exited immediately behind him had a parachute which did not open and he fell through the suspension lines of Corporal Gammon. With quick thinking, complete disregard for his personal safety, and contributing factors which might have collapsed his own canopy, Corporal Gammon caught the suspension lines of the malfunctioning parachute. Noticing the lines and canopy were badly twisted, Corporal Gammon quickly lowered the parachute hand over hand until he grasped the skirt of the canopy. All of the foregoing occurred in midair. Violently shaking the collapsed parachute, Corporal Gammon caused it to inflate approximately 25 feet from the ground and allowed the other individual to descend safely. Through his act of courage and display of bravery, Corporal Gammon undoubtedly saved the life of a fellow-paratrooper. The outstanding manner in which Corporal Gammon performed his duties in the face of immediate danger and with complete disregard for his own personal safety reflects great credit on himself and is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service.