(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Captain William Wensten Spurgeon, Jr., United States Army, was awarded the Soldier’s Medal for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy in risking his life to pull a fellow soldier from the wreckage of an Army National Guard helicopter in June 1987 at Fort Irwin, California. Captain Spurgeon escaped when a UH-1H helicopter he was piloting crashed because of engine failure. He entered the burning craft once unsuccessfully as he tried to save a trapped soldier. His second entry was successful when he wrenched the seat to which the victim was strapped from the floor of the helicopter. Captain Spurgeon was severely burned during the rescue attempt.