The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1931-07-24

III 4HN while serving in any capacity with
III " 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 Soldiers
medal may not be awarded for heroism per-
formed prior TO July ?, 1926 There is further
requirement that 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 herosm.
Only Soldiers medal, like our other
awards for valor and distinction, will be issued
to any one person, but for each succeeding deed
or act sufficient to warrant the award Of the
Soldiers meal, oak leaf cluster will be au-
thorized for attaching to the suspension ribbon.
According to the secretary Of war, the Soldiers
medal will rank fourth in precedence among our
several medals awarded for valor and distinc-
ton.
The design approved by the secretary Of
early this year submitted by Gaetana Cecere
of New York city. 1t was selected from among
several by the commission of fine arts, and
in point of design meets the approval of the
countrys highest tribunal in this field Of art
The design is octagonal in contour and the
medals struck off from bronze. The diverse
illustrates an eagle, displayed, standing 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,
if 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
Guiding the officers corps and the enlisted
reserve corps, not in active duty, under crcum-
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; men,
bers of the military, navy and air forces Of for
eign 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 commander
of the officer soldier for formal presentation
with suitable ceremonies
Typical citations describing feats for which
Soldiers medals have been awarded are:
Joel u. 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. ].
Captain Holmes, one of 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-caber 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 1t from the wreckage to q
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 Una
1or, medical corps reserve), United States army.
For heroism on July TO- 1926. during the explo-
sons at the Lake Denmark naval ammunition
depot, near Dover, N. ]. Doctor Baker, the con-
tract surgeon for Picatinny arsenal was in his
office In Dover, N. j. when he felt the concus-
sion Of the first explosion and Immediately left
for the arsenal
Upon learning that injured woman was
lying in the road near the point where the two
heaviest explosions had occurred, Doctor Baker,
accompanied by two other men, proceeded
toward that point. While there probability
of other serious detonations they reached the
injured woman, rendered first aid, and dis
patched the patient to the hospital The rescue