Captain Soladay was the pilot of a F4U-4B Corsair fighter with Marine Fighter Squadron 212, Marine Air Group 12, 1st Marine Air Wing. On May 1952, while returning from a combat mission, his engine caught fire. He attempted to land at Airfield K-6 (Pyongtaek), but was about to crash, so he attempted a low altitude bailout.

Soladay was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.