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 Sergeant David E. Bolton, United States Army, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy as a member of Board Number 5, Continental Army Command, at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, on 25 June 1956. Sergeant Bolton was performing the duties of assistant static jump master aboard a C-123 Airplane flying at an altitude of 1250 feet above the Fort Bragg Military Reservation. As one of the soldiers designated to jump from the airplane approached the jump door, the reserve parachute which he was wearing was actuated and the parachute canopy fell outside the airplane and into the slipstream. The soldier immediately fell to the floor of the airplane. Sergeant Bolton realized that if the parachute canopy became inflated the soldier would be forcibly extracted from the airplane and undoubtedly severely or fatally injured by striking the aft edge of the door frame. Subjecting himself to the identical danger, Sergeant Bolton unhesitatingly, and with complete disregard for his own personal safety, fell upon the soldier in an effort to prevent him from being pulled out. Grasping the top suspension lines of the parachute with one hand and a knife from his belt with the other, Sergeant Bolton cut the suspension lines, thus separating the trailing parachute canopy from the soldier. Sergeant Bolton’s prompt and courageous action reflects great credit on himself and the military service.