The Coolidge examiner., 1931-07-24
BY ELMO SCOTT WATSON

BY ELMO SCOTT WATSON
7T HE old saying about peace hath its
victories no less renowned thar
war; has taken on new meaning
Y II since the establishment of a new
ID army award This is the Soldiers
W& medal and under the provision OF
H%SA act Of congress, approved July
SA&A 3 1926 one of these medals will be
%&N2N presented by the President under
ENNVNSN such rules and regulations as he
i VI&MVJ may prescribe, but not in the name
&XH of congress, to any person who
H | 4YH while serving in any capacity with
| ~ the United States army shall dis
- tinguish himself or herself by hero
ism not involving actual conflict with an enemy.
Under the provisions of the act a Soldiers
medal may not be awarded for heroism per-
formed prior to July 2, 1926. There is further
requirement that a recommendation must have
been made within two years of the act of hero
ism, made the basis of the recommendation, and
that an award if made must be approved within
three years of the date of an act of heroism.
Only Soldiers medal like our other
awards for vaor and distinction, will be issued
to any one person, but for each succeeding deed
act sufficient to warrant the award Of the
Soldiers meal, an oak leaf cluster will be au-
thOriZed for attaching to the suspension ribbon.
medal will rank fourth in precedence among our
several medals awarded for valor and distinc-
tiOn.
The design approved by the secretary of war
early this year was submitted by Gaetana Cecere
of New York city. 1t was selected from among
several by the commission of fine arts, and so
in point of design meets the approval of the
country's highest tribunal in this field OF art.
The design is octagonal in contour and the
medals are struck off from bronze. The diverse
illustrates eagle, displayed, standing on a
fasces between two groups of stars. The reverse
bears the shield between two sprays Of leaves,
with the inscription, Soldiers Medal For valor"
The medal is worn suspended from ribbon of
blue, with thirteen alternate red and white
stripes.
The following classes of persons, according to
the War department, are eligible for the medal
IT performing an act Of heroism subsequent to
July 2, 1926: All members of the United States
army; all members of the National Guard not in
federal service and of the organized reserves, in
cluding the officers reserve corps and the enlisted
reserve corps. not in active duty, under circum-
stances directly related to their attendance on
occasions of military duty; members of the
United States navy and marine corps while serv-
ing with the army of the United States mem
bers of the military, navy and air forces of for
egn governments while serving with the army of
the United States Civilians are not eligible for
the award Of the Soldiers medal.
Distribution of the Soldiers medal was begun
In April of this year shortly after the design of
it was approved by the army authorities. Forty
of these medals had been awarded up to that
date 81 of which had been received by the adju-
tant general of the army from the quartermas-
ter-general for forwarding to their winners. Until
the design had been approved and manufacture
of the medal begun by the QuartermaSter CORPS
certificates Incorporating the citation for the
deed had been presented to the winners The 81
medals were sent to the corps area commander
of the officer or soldier for formal presentation
with suitable ceremonies.
Typical citations describing feats for which
Soldiers medals have been awarded are
Joel G. Holmes, captain, ordnance depart
ment United States army. For herOism on July
IL, 1926, during the explosions at the Lake Den
mark naval ammunition depot near Dover, n. J.
Captain Holmes one of a party of eight men,
entered the burning area at 6 80 a. m. to search
for First Lieut. George w. Bott, Jr, United
States army, who was known to have been in the
powder factory at the time of the first explosions
late the preceding afternoon.
Throughout the search they were in close
proximity to burning magazines and exposed to
frequent explosions of large-caliber shells and
small-arms ammunition While there was still
possibility of more serious detonatiOns and at
the risk of their lives they located the body of
Lieutenant Bott and with great difficulty sue
ceeded in removing it from the wreckage to a
point outside the danger zone"
Capt John P Harris ordnance department and
Master Sergt. Christian ]. VOgt of Unity, Wis
stationed at Picatinny arsenal, New Jersey, both
received citations similar to that of Captain
Holmes.
Augustus L. L. Baker, contract surgeon (ma-