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 Captain (Transportation Corps) Walter E. Spriggs, Jr., United States Army, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy at Chuar and Temple Buttes, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, during the period 1 July 1956 through 11 July 1956 following the crash of two giant commercial aircraft near the Eastern end of Grand Canyon National Park. This crash, commercial aviation’s worst disaster, required at least an attempt to learn the cause of the tragedy to prevent future threats to the safety of commercial aviation and, if possible to locate and aid any possible survivors or bodies. Aerial searchers who discovered the wreckage on two inaccessible buttes, 2,000 feet above the floor of the Grand Canyon, together with expert mountain climbers, felt that the wreckage could never be reached, either by ground or aerial rescue efforts. Captain Spriggs, pilot of the light Army helicopter, was determined to continue rescue efforts and unhesitatingly braved gale force winds and deadly drafts, that threatened to dash him against the sheer walls of the mile deep canyon, finally landing in an area not much larger than the helicopter. He returned with parts of the wreckage which enabled aeronautical experts to determine the cause of the crash. Captain Spriggs returned on repeated occasions and assisted in the recovery of the bodies of all the persons who perished in the wreckage, also his prompt and courageous actions to gather wreckage evidence, will contribute greatly to the establishment of new Flight Safety developments. Captain. Sprigg’s courageous actions reflect great credit on himself and the military service.