Laureled Sons of Dartmouth

Men Cited for Heroism and Meritorious Achievement

CAPTAIN ROBERT J. DIXON '41, flying from an 8th Air Force Reconnaissance Station in England, recently became the first American photographic reconnaissance pilot to complete a tour of hours in the European Theater of Operations. More recently he was named commanding officer of his photographic reconnaissance squadron which is one of the units that comprise the 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group.

In setting the tour of hours precedence Captain Dixon flew dozens of hazardous, solitary missions deep into enemy territory to photograph German troop and supply movements, communication lines, and defense and industrial installations. He has taken hundreds of the aerial pictures the High Command has closely studied before making its devastating air and ground assaults against the enemy.

In addition to the Theater of Operations ribbon, Captain Dixon wears the Air Medal, Four Oak Leaf Clusters to the Air Medal, and the Distinguished Unit citation ribbon. The Air Medal and Oak Leaf Clusters are recognition for the numerous hazardous missions he has flown while the Unit Citation was awarded to all personnel of the Seventh Group for their part in invasion of the continent.

In December, 1942, Captain Dixon became a flying officer in the Royal Canadian Air Force. In September, 1943, he transferred to the United States Army Air Force with a commission of first lieutenant, and he was promoted to his present rank in May of 1944. His home is in New York City.

LIEUTENANT ROBERT M. CARROLL '38 I USNR has been awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action. He has been in the submarine service for the past two years having served the greater part of the time in the South Pacific. I regret that I have no citation for this award.

His home is in Watertown, Mass.

FROM AN EIGHTH AIR FORCE Liberator Station in England comes the announcement that First Lieutenant William C. Schuster '46 has been awarded a third Oak Leaf Cluster to the Air Medal.

He has been a bombardier in what has been known as "Brogger's Grocery Run," named after Colonel Jacob J. Brogger's group which bombed the enemy and took food supplies to the people of France.

SECOND LIEUTENANT OTTO J. GRIESAR '45 USAAF has received the Air Medal for meritorious achievement in combat over Europe.

His citation read: "For exceptionally meritorious achievement, while participating in bomber combat missions over enemy-occupied continental Europe. The courage, coolness and skill displayed by this man on these occasions reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States."

He lives in Forest Hills, N. Y.

CAPTAIN WALTER D. LEACH JR. '39 AUS has been awarded the Bronze Star Medal "for meritorious achievement in connection with military operations against the Japanese in the Southwest Pacific, February 1 to October, 1944."

Captain Leach has been with headquarters of the service command on Bougainville, Solomon Islands.

WORD HAS BEEN RECEIVED that Lieutenant Colonel Fred Eaton Jr. '40 USAAF who had, previous to his European combat experiences, exciting and meritorious combat in the South Pacific area, has received the Distinguished Service Cross after a fortress raid on Germany on July 19, last, which he led to a successful conclusion despite painful wounds received during his one hundred and first fortress mission.

He has previously been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Silver Star, and several Oak. Leaf Clusters.

FIRST LIEUTENANT WILLIAM P. G. CHAPIN '40 has been reported missing in action while on a bombing mission over Yugoslavia, Nov. 5, 1944.

He is a Liberator pilot and has participated in 23 missions. He has won the Air Medal, an Oak Leaf Cluster, and a Presidential Unit Citation. He also has the right to wear the Red Star of the Partisan Army for an unknown mission.

He was associate news editor of the Rutland, Herald before entering service in March, 1942.

CAPTAIN DONALD ERION '36 AUS now with the 9th Infantry Division, has been awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious service. The award was made by Major General Louis A. Graig.

Captain Erion participated in the initial landings in Algiers, and the succeeding landings in Tunisia and Sicily. He landed on the beaches of France with early elements of the invasion force and took part in the cutting of the Cotentin peninsula, the capture of Cherbourg and the breakthrough at St. Lo.

STAFF SERGEANT MERLE L. PERKINS '41, of the 15th AAF in Italy, in recognition of one of the outstanding bombing missions of the war, has been awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation.

Staff Sergeant Perkins is a radioman-gunner on a B-17 Flying Fortress. He has also won the Air Medal for "meritorious achievement in aerial flight."

The group was cited for an action July 18 when 26 Fortresses of the group participated in a mission against the airdrome and installations at Memmingen, Germany. In a spectacular air battle, the gunners in the group accounted for 65 enemy planes, destroyed or damaged. In addition their bombs destroyed or damaged 35 more planes parked on the enemy airdrome. Sergeant Perkins completed his fifteenth mission last September.

His home is in West Lebanon, N. H.

CAPTAIN ARTHUR L. FLINNER '35 AUS for heroism not involving actual conflict with the enemy in Normandy, France, has been awarded the Soldier's Medal.

"On July 13, 1944, a fire accidentally started at one of the gun positions of the artillery battery commanded by Captain Flinner, igniting and causing the shells nearby to explode, endangering the lives of all within a radius of 600 yards. Captain Flinner, who was not present at the time, was summoned and immediately and with complete disregard for his own safety procured several buckets of water and, ignoring the great heat and shell fragments, entered the conflagration repeatedly. When the fire was diminished considerably, he organized a bucket brigade, with himself as the last man in the chain. Then, when the fire was completely extinguished, Captain Flinner carried to a safe distance from the battery area all remaining unexploded ammunition which was still smouldering. The high degree of courage and initiative displayed by Captain Flinner, which undoubtedly saved many lives, reflect great credit upon himself and the Military Service."

PRIVATE JAMES TILLSON '44 AUS has been awarded the Bronze Star. "During the Saipan military operation against the enemy from 16 June until July 1, 1944, when he became a casualty, the above named soldier succeeded in distinguishing himself to a marked degree as a cannoneer in the number 7 position of the third gun section. The merit of this achievement lies in the remarkable spirit and real ability he exhibited all the time around the gun, especially when executing fire missions but also during these periods of important but less interesting work between fire missions. Constantly he showed a real interest and concern far above the average, and he performed with the exact precision and timing of a man with a tremendous inspiration. Pvt. Tillson's expertness in his duties as a cannoneer and his constant alertness to improve his service of the price contributed heavily to the efficiency of the section and constituted a real contribution worthy of award to the firing battery."

AMBULANCE DRIVER JOHN HODEL '41, of . the American Field Service, has been awarded the French Croix de Guerre. He distinguished himself in the Ferdrupt Sector from the 15th to the 20th of October. "By his zeal and brave conduct during the evacuations which he carried through despite the fire of enemy artillery particularly during the period of the 17 to the 18 of October."

SECOND LIEUTENANT ALFRED J. DENSMORE JR. '44, pilot of a B-17 Flying Fortress from England, has been awarded the Air Medal for "meritorious achievement" while taking part in the 8th Air Force bombing attacks on vital German in- dustrial targets, and military strong points.

FIRST LIEUTENANT JAMES P. MAXWELL '41, pilot of a B-24 Liberator, 15th Air Force, Italy, has been awarded the Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Distinguished Unit Badge. He also wears the European campaign .ribbon with one campaign star.

LIEUTENANT B. KIRBY T HORNE '39 U SAAC, a pilot for a year in the China-Burma- India theater, has been awarded the President's Medal and the Distinguished Service Medal.

LIEUTENANT COLONEL CHARLES T. CLARK JR. '33 AUS has won a Presidential Unit Citation, the Bronze Star Medal, and three campaign stars for service in the Netherland East Indies, the Papuan and the New Guinea campaigns.

CAPTAIN JAY T. NEWTON '33 USAAF, an intelligent officer in the European Theater for 26 months, won a Presidential Unit Citation.

FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT in the China-Burma-India Theater of Operations the veteran 64th Troop Carrier Group, to which Staff Sergeant Woodrow W. Russell '39 is assigned, has been cited by the 12th Air Force. This entitles Sergeant Russell to wear the Distinguished Unit Badge.

Last April their Troop Carrier Group, stationed in the Mediterranean Theater, was suddenly ordered to fly to the support of the Allied Forces battling the Japanese in the Imphal Valley, India, and the Myitkyina area, Burma. Seven days later the big twin-engined C-47 transport planes of their group were delivering supplies where they would do the most good. For two and a half months, against terrific odds, the unit continued to support the Allied armies, and played a tremendous part in driving the Japanese from Northern Burma and the Imphal Valley.

THE BRONZE STAR is awarded to Capt. William Schuldenfrei '31, (right) executive officer. Supply Division, Quartermaster United Kingdom Base. The captain is being decorated by Col. Aloysius M. Brumbaugh, Quartermaster of the United Kingdom Base.