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 Fifth Class Richard W. Howard, United States Army, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy as a member of Headquarters and Service Company, 4th Medium Tank Battalion (Patton), 68th Armor, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, on 24 July 1959. Specialist Howard was performing duty as Track Vehicle Mechanic when he noticed an M-48 Tank on fire. Without hesitation or concern for his own personal safety, he picked up a fire extinguisher in the shop where he was working and, utilizing a jeep, drove to the scene of the flaming vehicle. Determining that more extinguishers were needed, he drove back to the Battalion Maintenance Shop and obtained two additional extinguishers. When he returned and found thick black smoke and fumes coming up through the tank turret, Specialist Howard, with utter disregard for his own safety, climbed down into the turret of the smoldering vehicle, removed the engine compartment access doors and fought the fire until it was extinguished. Specialist Howard’s prompt courage and aggressive actions in the face of this sudden emergency saved the tank from total destruction and reflect distinct credit on himself and the United States Army.