Laureled Sons of Dartmouth
Men Cited for Heroism and Meritorious Achievement
CAPTAIN DAVID GRATZ '41, AUS, was killed in action in Italy on February 9, 1945. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with the following citation:
For meritorious service in combat, from 22 September 1944 to 22 December 1944, in Italy. As motor officer of a tank battalion, Captain Gratz was responsible for the maintenance of vehicles during combat operations. Captain Gratz went forward in the field, many times under hostile fire, to supervise in retrieving and repairing vehicles. When the tanks of the battalion were in the reserve area for more than a month, he kept a high percentage of the vehicles operative, despite the continuous mud, rain, snow, and ice. This was largely due to his untiring efforts, close supervision, and superior technical knowledge. His initiative and devotion to duty reflect on the high traditions of the United States Army.
LIEUTENANT FRANCIS T. CHASE '47, AUS, has won the Distinguished Service Cross for heroic achievement December 3, 1944, in Germany while serving with the 414th Infantry. While his company was pinned down by intense enemy automatic rifle and cannon fire, Lieutenant Chase, then a PFC, ran across 50 yards of open terrain. He gained entrance to a factory and then "moving from window to window, placed devastating rocket fire upon hostile positions, permitting his company to occupy the building without casualties." He was wounded while firing rockets at an approaching enemy self-propelled gun, but continued firing and forced the first and a second vehicle back, "then fired upon the attacking infantry, inflicting severe casualties and halting the assault." He has the Purple Heart Medal, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, and two battle stars.
RADIOMAN JAMES E. BURTON '45, USNR, was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for gallantry in action during the invasion of Luzon.
LIEUTENANT ALFRED S. EISAMAN JR. '40, USNR, who had 28 months destroyer sea duty aboard the U. S. S. Waller (DD466) as torpedo and gunnery officer has received the Silver Star Medal for gallantry in action in the Kula Gulf on March 6, 1943. He has also been recommended for the Bronze Star Medal.
CAPTAIN JOSEPH J. O'HARE '40, USAAF, attached to the Air Transport Command has won the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with clusters and 5 battle stars. For two years he ferried B-17s over the North Atlantic and for the past ten months he has been flying the Hump in the Army C-54s.
To his Air Medal (August 1943 issue) LIEUTENANT RICHARD RiGGs'42, USNR. has added the Order of the Southern Cross from Brazil, and another Air Medal with a commendation ribbon.
MAJOR BERNARD BERMAN '29, AUS, in the Medical Corps, participated in four major campaigns and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal and the Croix de Guerre with gold star.
VIATION RADIOMAN FIRST CLASSA CHARLES CLUCAS '44 has won the Air Medal. His citation:
for meritorious service while participating in an aerial flight against major naval units of the Japanese Fleet in the Harbor of the Kuro tail Base, Honshu, Japan, on 19 March 1945. As a combat Aircrewman of a carrier-based torpedo bomber he skillfully and accurately Snared and employed his equipment. He materially assisted his pilot in pressing home TP attack despite intense anti-aircraft fire. He made an accurate observation of the disposition of enemy ships, which substantially aided in the final assessment of the enemy forces present as well as the damage inflicted thereon. His devotion to duty was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
CAPTAIN ROY ROWAN '41, AUS, has been awarded the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious achievement in direct supnort of operations against the enemy in Manila, Philippine Islands, from February 17 to May 1, 1945.
LIEUTENANT RICHARD W. BALDWIN '42, USNR, has won the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious achievement in operations against the enemy last April off Okinawa.
FIRST LIEUTENANT RICHARD LEE RANGER '44, USAAF, for extraordinary achievement while taking part in an aerial flight over Shoka, Formosa, April 18 last, as pilot of a B-25 medium bomber, has been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Although one engine was damaged by anti-aircraft fire, as well as the hydraulic system of the plane, Lieutenant Ranger kept the damaged engine running, climbed to an altitude of 6,000 feet from which the crew dropped bombs manually through open doors upon the target, smashing Japanese freight cars and yards. After completing the bombing, Lieutenant Ranger later made a successful belly landing in northern Luzon without injury to any of his crew.
CAPTAIN ERNEST R. BREECH '40, USAAF, has been awarded the Bronze Star. He served three years in England.
LIEUTENANT HOWARD A. KAISER '35,J USNR, was awarded the Silver Star Medal by Admiral Kinkaid, Commander of the Seventh Fleet,
For distinguishing himself by gallantry and intrepidity in action as Commanding Officer of a vessel during operations in the Southwest Pacific Area. Despite intense fire from enemy shore batteries..... Lieutenant Kaiser conducted dangerous minesweeping operations and directed effective return fire against enemy positions. When his ship was struck and sunk by enemy action, his cool leadership and courage were an inspiration to the officers and men serving with him.
COLONEL WILLIS S. FITCH '17, USAAF, has recently been awarded the Legion of Merit for meritorious conduct.
CAPTAIN DAVID B. NICHOLS '37, AUS, of a medical administrative corps, has won the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious achievement in connection with military operations against the enemy on Luzon, Philippine Islands, from 19 January 1945 to 20 June 1945.
LIEUTENANT GENE G. KING '39, AUS, won the Silver Star Medal for "gallantry and zealous devotion to his men." Lieutenant King took part in the famous battle of Avranches, Argentan, and Alencon where the 250,000 Germans were captured in the Falaise Gap, and which broke the power of the German army.
MAJOR FRANK VAN KIRK JR. '35, AUS, Medical Corps, has been awarded the Bronze Star Medal. The award was made at 9th Army Headquarters last July.
LIEUTENANT COMMANDER WILLIAM W. GRANT III '31, USNR, won the Bronze Star Medal:
For meritorious service in connection with operations against the enemy from 10 November 1942 to 5 August 1945. From 10 November 1942 to February 1944, he served in Air Force, Pacific Fleet, and from 18 August 1943 to 11 October 1943, he served as Air Combat Intelligence Officer on the Staff of Carrier Task Force Commanders during the attacks on Wake and Marcus Islands. From 11 February 1944 to 5 August 1945, he was in the Plans Division of the Staff of the Commander in Chief, U. S. Pacific Fleet and Pacific Ocean Areas, and assisted materially in the preparation of plans for the Central Pacific Campaign and associated attacks on Japan. Throughout this period his outstanding loyalty, ability and conscientious performance of duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
MAJOR H. A. SALM '41, USAAF, has been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters. Major Salm entered the Air Force in August 1941, and went overseas in April 1945 as pilot on a B-29. Based on Guam he participated in 31 sorties and logged 480 combat hours. The gunners on his crew damaged and probably destroyed one Japanese aircraft.
LIEUTENANT COLONEL LYLE M. SPENCER '33, AUS, has been awarded the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service in connection with military operations November 5, 1944, to April 15, 1945. He saw active service in Africa, Italy, France and Germany.
MAJOR JOHN E. WHELDEN '38, AUS, fighting with the infantry, has won the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service.
MAJOR EDMUND P. FOWLER JR. '26, AUS, has won the Legion of Merit "for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services as Chief of the Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Section, and General Hospital, and Special Consultant in Aviation Otology, European Theater of Operations, during the period December 1942 to December 1944."
WORD has been received that PRIVATE FIRST CLASS SAMUEL C. DOYLE '47, AUS, has received the Bronze Star Medal.
PRIVATE FIRST CLASS DAVID R. ALDOM '47, AUS, was killed in action in Germany on April 14, 1945. He won the Bronze Star Medal:
For heroic achievement in connection with military operations against the enemy in Germany on 13 April 1945. When the advance of the second battalion was halted at...., Germany, by a series of heavily defended road blocks, Private First Class Aldom advanced through the town under heavy fire to help reorganize the leading elements of the battalion and lead them out of town. Approximately two miles beyond .. .., the column again was subjected to deadly enemy fire. Private First Class Aldom, still with the point of the advance, unhesitatingly moved forward to eliminate new enemy positions and in so doing was mortally wounded by an exploding panserfaust shell. His heroic deeds contributed substantially to the rapid advance of his battalion.
He was the Browning Automatic Rifle man for his Company and had been awarded the Expert Infantry Badge in January 1945.
FORMER SENIOR FELLOW, Major William Charles Chamberlin '3B, Infantry Battalion Commander in the Second Marine Division at Saipan, and Marianas Islands, has been awarded two Silver Stars, the Navy Cross and the Purple Heart.
RECEIVED BRONZE STAR FROM NIMITZ. Lt. Commander W. W. Grant 111 '31, USNR (right), the son of the College's Life Trustee, was presented the award by the Admiral whose historic signature was also appended to the citation.
