Laureled Sons of Dartmouth

Men Cited for Heroism and Meritorious Achievement

A FEW MONTHS AGO Lt. General R. C. Richardson pinned the Silver Star Medal on the tunic of Captain John C. Patrick '36 for gallantry in action near Buffalo Head ridge during the battle of Attu. Captain Patrick is an officer in Field Artillery, and comes from Portland, Oregon.

CAPTAIN DERROL W. ROGERS '40 of the USAAF was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross "for extraordinary achievement and heroism while serving as pilot of a B-17 bombing plane on May 13, 1943 European Theater of operations.

A letter from Major General Ira Eaker, commandant of the 8th United States Air Force, describes his outstanding action while piloting a bomber doomed by an accident-during the takeoff.

Captain Rogers shuttled back and forth from a landing field to the sea in order to save the lives of his crew members, at the same time jettisoning the craft's bombs. After eight men had jumped, including an injured member of the crew, leaving Captain Rogers and his co-pilot 2nd Lt. Norville Gorse of Chicago, now a prisoner in Germany, remaining in the plane, Rogers headed back to sea to avoid a crash landing which might have endangered those on the ground. After gaining sufficient altitude, Rogers and Gorse bailed out. A rescue squad picked up Gorse but Captain Rogers was dead when found.

CAPTAIN PAUL L. MATHER '18, USN, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. during the amphibious invasion of the Island of Sicily has been awarded the Legion of Merit.

LIEUT. COLONEL DAVID C. SCHILLING '39, USAAF, pilot of a Thunderbolt, has won the Distinguished Flying Cross for more than 50 missions over enemy territory. He has been credited with four enemy craft destroyed in successive missions. His citation read, in part:

"His skillful and zealous manner in seeking out the enemy and engaging them in combat, his devotion to duty, and courage under all conditions, serve as an inspiration to his fellow flier." (If Dave happens to read this I hope he will write a letter to the editor. H. F. W.)

MAJOR LAWRENCE P. DWYER JR. '41 has appeared in "Laureled Sons" in the May, 1943, issue. Since the award of the Air Medal he has received the Distinguished Flying Cross, and three Oak Leaf Clusters. He has now finished his combat tour with "Wray's Raggedy Irregulars" and is now a staff officer in England.

SERGEANT LINVILLE G. HIGGINS '39 has been awarded the United States Good Conduct Medal and Ribbon for his devotion to duty, efficiency, and meritorious conduct and behavior. He is somewhere in the South Pacific.

GAPTAIN PHILIP C. HALLAM '41, USAAC, has been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for "extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flights in the Southwest Pacific Area. He took part in over fifty missions; landings often were made on fields only a few miles from Japanese bases."

Ix. (JG) ROBERT SHEDDEN '42, of the j Naval Air Corps, has been awarded the Air Medal for "bravery and valor" in eleven bombing missions against the Japanese in the Solomon area.

MAJOR HENRY E. JONES JR. '37, USAAC, has been awarded the Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Distinguished Flying Cross with one Oak Leaf Cluster. I regret that I have no further details of Major Jone's extraordinary record.

THE GOLD STAR in lieu of a second Air Medal has been presented Lt. (jg) George J. Seel '41 USNR. The award is for aerial combat in the Solomons area July 18, 1943 "as a member of a fighter escort to a striking force of bombers over Kahili. Lt. Seel, with grim determination and expert marksmanship, skillfully engaged and shot down two enemy fighters in flames.

"His courage and initiative while taking part in this engagement and in numerous routine patrols, escort missions and fighter interceptions, often in the face of anti-aircraft fire, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."

Lt. Seel is now a combat instructor in an operational training squadron at Jacksonville.

He had previously been awarded the Air Medal last April for destroying two Zeros. Pilot of a Wildcat, he is now credited with four Zeros with another four probables to his credit.

CAPT. JOHN C. PATRICK '36, Field Artillery Officer, receives silver star decoration from Lt. Gen. R. C. Richardson, for gallantry in action at Buffalo Head Ridge, Attu.

MAJ. L. P. DWYER Jr. '41, 8th Air Force, has won several decorations for good work.