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 Specialist Third Class [then Private First Class] Joseph C. Killian, United States Army, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy as a member of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Yukon Command, United States Army, Alaska, at Fairbanks, Alaska, on 18 January 1957. When fire broke out on the Northward Building, an eight story apartment building unequipped with fire escapes endangered the lives of approximately 270 occupants, Specialist Killian took the incentive in rescue work. He climbed a ladder extending from the second to the seventh floor of the building, disregarding the unstable position of the ladder because of snow and ice incident to weather of 15 degrees below zero, and entered smoke filled apartments in search of occupants. Specialist Killian then handed a small hook ladder up to the eighth floor and proceeded to climb it, although the ladder could not be securely locked to the window ledge, and entered an eighth floor apartment, rescuing three persons. Specialist Killian’s heroic action inspired a disorganized and slow-moving rescue party and on looking crowd, setting an example which gave courage to the others and made a successful rescue operation out of a situation which could otherwise have ended tragically, reflecting great credit on himself in the military service.