Laureled Sons of Dartmouth
Men Gited for Heroism and Meritorious Achievement
MAJOR JOHN I. FITZGERALD JR. '40, USMCR, just home from 31 months in the South Pacific, has been awarded the Legion of Merit.
His citation reads: "For exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Commanding Officer of an amphibian tractor battalion attached to a Marine division, prior to and during the action against enemy Japanese forces on Peleliu and Ngesebus Islands, Palau Group, 15 September to 20 October, 1944. When it became necessary to organize a provisional amphibian tractor battalion for the operation in a limited time, Captain Fitzgerald (since made Major as of May 1943) overcame the many difficulties presented, and with superior leadership and zeal, effectively trained his unit for combat. Although many of his vehicles were put out of action in the initial landing, Captain Fitzgerald, with resolute determination, untiring effort and initiative, established repair facilities which contributed immeasurably to the continuance of the attack. His conduct throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."
SECOND LIEUTENANT HARRY SEMMES JR. '43, AUS, has been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. He lost his right eye during a landing on Saipan. His father Colonel Harry H. Semmes '13, veteran of World War I, was decorated in the last war and also in this war.
LIEUTENANT FREDERIC ARMSTRONG DAVID SON JR. '40, USNR, has won the Navy and Marine Corps Medal "for distinguishing himself by heroism in rescuing a critically injured and unconscious officer from the wreckage of a carrier-based airplane which, returning from a mission against the enemy, crashed on the flight deck of a carrier on the night of June 20, 1944, in the vicinity of the Marianas Islands. In spite of the fact that he himself had been injured in the crash and that the wreckage was a mass of flames in imminent danger of exploding, he dashed into the midst of the flames and single handedly extricated the injured officer. His utter disregard of his own safety was at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."
Lieutenant Davidson has been engineering officer in charge of repairs and maintenance of planes for about two years on one of the large crack carriers which has taken part in practically all of the major Pacific actions since the early fall of 1943.
FIRST LIEUTENANT CRAIG D. BEDLE '46, navigator in the Eighth Air Force B-17 Flying Fortress Group, has won the Air Medal and three Oak Leaf Clusters for "courage, coolness and skill" displayed in bombing attacks over Germany.
LIEUTENANT CHARLES B. CASHIN '45, of j the Army Air Forces, is the holder of the Air Medal and four Oak Leaf Clusters. He is a bombardier and recently bailed out safely after his plane had three engines shot out and one left blazing.
MAJOR JOHN FITTING JR. '38, USMCR, has won the Purple Heart for wounds by shrapnel after bailing out from his burning aircraft last November over the Kieta airfield. He floated to the water below, where, twenty minutes later, he was picked up by an American patrol torpedo boat.
CAPTAIN CHARLES W. MILLS JR. '34, surgeon of the 135 th regiment of the veteran 34th "Red Bull" division, has been awarded the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious achievement in the performance of outstanding services on the 5th Army front in Italy.
This honor covers the period from November 30, 1943, to June 4, 1944, when Rome was liberated. At that time he was a battalion surgeon and despite the unfavorable terrain, miserable weather conditions and the hazards of enemy action, maintained his aid stations close to the lines in order that the wounded could be given prompt treatment.
His citation stated: "From Mt. Pantano to Cassino, Captain Mills maintained aid stations in close proximity to the front lines despite enemy artillery and mortar fire. During this period he worked day and night treating the unusually large number of sick and wounded who passed through his aid station. On the Anzio Beachhead and in the drive for Rome, Captain Mills performed similar gallant and valuable work, especially during the bloody battle near Lanuvie."
Captain Mills is from Chillicothe, Ohio.
LIEUTENANT COLONEL CHARLES H. SAR-GENT JR. '20, AUS, for "meritorious service in the liberation of France in the present war," has been decorated with the Croix de Guerre with gold star.
LIEUTENANT PHILIP J. GLAZER '34, AUS, j is the winner of the Bronze Star Medal "for distinguishing himself by heroic service against an enemy of the United States on Sept. 17, 1944."
Lt. Glazer is with the "Lucky Seventh" Armored division which distinguished itself in the Battle for France by rolling 600 miles in 21 days.
SECOND LIEUTENANT JOHN T. BILLINGTON '44, flying with the 15th Air Force based in Italy, has flown fourteen combat missions as bombardier on a B-24 bomber crew. He has been awarded the Air Medal for "meritorious achievement."
MAJOR HOWARD P. SERRELL '28 has been awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action in Belgium. His citation reads:
"For gallantry in action. During a counter-offensive by strong enemy forces, the city of Bastogne, Belgium, was surrounded and all possible routes of evacuation for the many seriously wounded men within the city were cut off. On December 25, Major Serrell, of the Auxiliary Surgical Group, in order to render surgical assistance, voluntarily flew into the besieged city by liaison plane, disregarding the danger of hostile fire. Arriving at the make-shift hospital within the city where the wounded men were being treated by available medical personnel he immediately set up an operating room. Working indefatigably throughout the night and the following day he performed twenty major surgical operations despite continued enemy bombing and shelling of the hospital area. Additional surgical personnel arrived on 26 December by glider and Major Serrell continued working with them until a field hospital was eventually established when armored forces advancing from the south made contact with the defenders of the city. This gallant officer saved many lives. His courage and heroic, unselfish devotion to duty exemplifies the highest traditions of the military service of the United States."
Major Serrell's latest action climaxed a series of engagements, including the landing in Normandy, where he followed the troops onto French soil on D-Day. His home is in Greenwich, Conn.
FIRST LIEUTENANT JOHN W. FOLEY '37, USMCR, has been commended by Admiral W. F. Halsey in the following citation: "For skillful and effective performance of duty as Intelligence Officer of a Marine Regiment in action against the Japanese forces in the Empress Augusta Bay area, Bougainville Island, British Solomon Islands, from November 1 to November 26, 1943. During this period, energetically and with professional skill of high order, Lt. Foley directed the collection and interpretation of intelligence data for his regiment, thereby contributing vitally to the correct prediction of the Japanese battle plans and enabling the regiment to maneuver brilliantly and efficiently against the enemy. On several occasions during the engagement with enemy forces at Piva Forks from November 18 to November 25, while under heavy concentrations of enemy artillery and mortar fire, he calmly and efficiently operated the regimental command post, maintaining the situation map, issuing orders, and imparting vital information to the combat troops with complete disregard for his own safety. His conduct was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."
SERGEANT ROBERT C. COLWELL '44, of the Twelfth Air Force, a Radar mechanic in "Cerny's Circus," a veteran troop carrier group, wears the Distinguished Unit Badge, and the European-African-Middle East Theater Ribbon with two stars.
FIRST LIEUTENANT GEORGE A. DANIELS '45, navigator on a B-17 Flying Fortress operating from a 15th AAF Base in Italy, is now a veteran of 31 combat missions over enemy-occupied Europe, and he has been awarded the Air Medal with One Oak Leaf Cluster for "meritorious achievement in aerial flight."
SECOND LIEUTENANT ALFRED J. DENSMORE '44, flying with an Bth Air Force Bomber Group out of England, has added an Oak Leaf Cluster to his previously announced Air Medal. He has helped his bomber fight its way through severe enemy opposition to attack such objectives as the marshalling yards' at Mainz, tank and truck factories at Bremen, and the marshalling yards at Cologne, Germany.
TECHNICAL SERGEANT EUGENE T. PINNEY '45, Bth Air Force, has won the Air Medal and one Oak Leaf Cluster for "meritorious achievement" while participating in the bombing of Nazi war industries and supporting ground forces battling in Germany.
LIEUTENANT WILLIAM R. MACDOUGALL 1 '46, US A AC, has the Air Medal and the Distinguished Flying Cross. I regret I have no citations for these awards.
CAPTAIN CLAYTON F. GRAY '41, USAAC, first pilot of the 20th Bomber Command in the 20th Air Force, has piloted his plane, "Himalaya Hussy," on bombing missions over the Japanese mainland, Manchuria, Rangoon, India, Yawata, and has transported more fuel over the "Hump" in B-29's than any pilot in his group. He has been awarded the Air Medal for meritorious achievement in flight.
FIRST LIEUTENANT CHARLES S. WALLER '42, of the Bth Air Force in England, has been awarded the Air Medal for meritorious service in flight over enemy-occupied Europe.
LIEUTENANT STEVENS S. Stotzer '36, USNR, has been awarded the Bronze Star. He has served in the Atlantic area in a PC boat, and is now an instructor in the Midshipman's School at Columbia.
STAFF SERGEANT ROBERT WINTER '46, USAAF, has received the Air Medal and Oak Leaf Cluster for meritorious achievement as ball turret gunner on a B-17. He recently completed 35 missions. He is with 15th Air Force in Italy.
LIEUTENANT THOMAS J. MURRAY '45, j USAAC, has flown 35 missions as bombardier-navigator on a B-17 out of England, and has been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal, and 3 Oak Leaf Clusters.
MAJOR WILLARD W. MORRIS '39, AUS, has won the Bronze Star Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge.
CAPTAIN LLOYD R." BISHOP '42, USAAC, pilot of a Liberator flying out of Italy, has been awarded the Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, the Presidential Unit Citation with 2 clusters, and has recently received the Distinguished Flying Cross.
CONGRATULATIONS FROM HIS CO, Major Gen- eral James L. Underhill, go to Marine Major John I. Fitzgerald Jr. '4O on his being awarded the Legion of Merit for meritorious conduct.
ONE OF THE HEROES OF BASTOGNE, Major Howard P. Serrell '2B has been awarded a Silver Star for gallantry in action during the bitter fight.
