Laureled Sons of Dartmouth
CAPTAIN HARRY S. CONNOR '38, United States Marine Corps Reserve, who was among the first group of Marines to land on Guadalcanal has been presented with the Silver Star Medal for gallantry in action.
His citation, signed by Admiral William F. Halsey, reads as follows: "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy. During the offensive operation from the Ist to the 4th of November, 1942, in the Matanikau river area on Guadalcanal Island, British Solomon Islands, Captain Connor, battalion operations officer, was outstanding in his display of courage and leadership on numerous occasions.
"On the afternoon of November 2 he commanded a reinforced company which cut off the enemy lines of communication to the enemy's rear and withstood two strong counter attacks by the enemy in its attempt to re-establish its lines of communication. During these encounters, Captain Connor also spotted for the artillery which laid fire down to aid the Marine defense. All of this was done under a barrage of enemy mortar and machine gun fire. Captain Connor was outstanding in the way he cooly estimated the situation and just as calmly carried out orders under heavy enemy fire."
After going to the South Pacific, and before landing on Guadalcanal, he took part in the storming of Tulagi last August 7, 8, and 9. Captain Connor is still in the South Pacific Area.
His home is in Worcester, Massachusetts, and he prepped at Worcester Academy.
CAPTAIN LAWRENCE P. DWYER JR. '41, from Michigan City, Michigan, has been awarded the Air Corps Medal for "exceptionally meritorious service by USAAF bombing planes."
Captain Dwyer entered the air force in July 1941, taking his primary course at Tulsa, Oklahoma. He followed through with his basic training at Goodfellow, Texas, and his advanced course in San Antonio. After graduating from the heavy bombardment school, he was sent to McDill Field, Florida, where he was retained as an instructor on Flying Fortresses. In October last year he flew a Fortress to England. Since then he has been a flight leader of three Flying Fortresses in their many raids over the European scene, and it was for this action that Captain Dwyer was awarded the medal.
1 ST LIEUTENANT GILBERT S. PORTMORE '36 has received the Purple Heart medal for wounds received in action over Darwin, Australia, on July 20, 1942.
He knocked down one Zero in the New Guinea Campaign.
Lt. Portmore got his CPT license at the Framingham Airport prior to entering the service. His home is in Framingham.
LT. GEORGE EVERETT BOTTJER '36, of East j Rockaway, New York, has been awarded the Navy Cross "for heroism and valor while fighting the Japanese." The award was made at Fort Lauderdale, Florida, by Rear Admiral James L. Kauffman, Gulf Sea Frontier Commander.
More than a year ago Bottjer was assigned to the aircraft carrier Yorktown and he was aboard this vessel when she joined the Pacific Fleet. As a flier of a torpedo plane, Bottjer was one of a crew which scored hits on five Japanese vessels in the Battle of Midway, four of which were sunk.
Just before the Yorktown sank Bottjer was given a temporary naval assignment elsewhere.
Lt. Bottjer enlisted in the Naval Reserves in 1939 and was sent to Pensacola. He was made an ensign in 1940. He is now a lieutenant senior grade.
RICHARD C. WOODMAN '38, of Everett, . Massachusetts, aviation radioman, 3rd class, USNR, has received the Air Medal for meritorious service while engaging the enemy.
His citation follows: "For meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight as radioman and turret gunner in a torpedo bomber of the U. S. S. Hornet Air Group during action against enemy Japanese forces near Santa Cruz Islands, October 6, 1942. Cooly and
effectively performing his task in the face of extremely heavy enemy anti-aircraft fire, Woodman, by his skill and gallant devotion to duty, contributed in a large measure to the success of the attack on a heavy Japanese cruiser. His courageous conduct throughout the engagement reflects great credit upon the United States Naval Service."
"FOR CONSPICUOUS GALLANTRY Captain Harry S. Connor '38 USMC, whowon the Silver Star Medal for gallantry inaction at Guadalcanal last November.
