Col. Thomas James, 4th Brigade commander, pins the Soldiers Medal on SFC Matthew Black as the sergeant’s wife, Sgt. Stephanie Black, watches. Black was honored with the medal for his actions in helping save fellow soldiers during a barracks fire at Camp Falcon, Baghdad in 2005. Black attributes his heroism to the non-commissioned officers’ creed. “It’s the ethic I live by every day of my life,” he said.