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 Lieutenant Colonel (Field Artillery) Edmund Castle, United States Army, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy while serving as Commanding Officer, 1st Missile Battalion (NIKE-HERCULES), 65th Artillery, Naha Air Face, Okinawa, on 26 May 1959. When a fire occurred during a joining operation of the warhead of a Nike- Hercules missile, Colonel Castle immediately ordered the evacuation of the entire launcher area and proceeded to the exclusion site where the missile was being prepared. Assisted by three members of the command, he removed the hatch covers to locate the fire and was met by thick smoke billowing from the access doors, making it difficult to locate the source of the fire inside. After discovering the fire, despite great danger of a possible detonation of the warhead, he assisted in disconnecting, extinguishing and removing the burning cable, and eliminated the grave threat of the safety of all personnel in the area. Colonel Castle’s prompt actions, unselfish concern for his own personal safety, and calm presence of mind in this spontaneous emergency averted possible injury to personnel and damage to Government property and material, reflecting the utmost credit upon himself and the military service.