The Alaska daily empire., 1923-03-20
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL BESTOWED ON COL. COTWALS WITH
 IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY BY BONE
Continued From rage one.)

lively, then escorted Governor Bone and Colonel Steese to tho platform and Colonel Gotwals took his place in the rear of the colors and color guard at the fcot of tho aisle between the members desks and leading to tho Speakers platform. He was flanked by Commander John Ford Starr, Commander of the local Legion post, and George E. Mann, Post Adjutant.
 Preceded by guo songs by the school glee club, Colonel Steese, who had been instructed by the sCom- manding General of the Ninth Corps Area to see that tho medal was bestowed with proper and fitting ceremonies, gave a short explanation of the occasion.
 He said:
 "Wc are gathered hero today to witness the recognition. by the President of the United States, of one of the outstanding figures of the World War. Congress has authorized the President to beStow a Distin- guished Service Medal upon persons who distinguished themselves by rem dering services of a specially mcritor- ious and conspicuous nature in a po- sition Of great responsibility during the war Of the 205,000 officers who served during the war, only about 800, or loss than one-half of one dr5 medals. Colonel Gotwals has been classed among this small number. This medal is awarded for his mill tary services overseas, as his cita- ticn indicates.
 Fruits of Hard Work
 'Tt is especially appropriate that there should be so many young people here in this audience and this should be a day of inspiration for them. Colonel Gotwals has never been blessed, or shall I say cursed, by any unusual or special advan- tages, but has forced recognition by his own efforts and hard work. Born and raised in modest home in small town in Pennsylvania. he passed through the public schools without any other distinguishing marks than a reputation for studious habits and a willingness to work. At Pennsylvania State College, he won a place on the varsity team and par ticipated in the usual college activi- ties. His willingness to work, how ever, bore its first fruit in his win hing of the I. c. White & Co. schol- arsh5p for all around merit in his studies and as "a man among men.
 'After completing his engineering course, he spent seven years i2 his chosen profession. mostly around New York City on the Pennsylvania Railroad tunnels and terminal and on the Now York aqucduct, the two most notable engineering achieve ments of the time. He was finally placed in charge of the most difficult section of the aaueduct.
 Army Career Brilliant
 '.He then took a competitive exam mation for appointment as an officer in the Corps of Engineers of the FeSuidI dTluy. Oi uhc 'hionJ So'Nt dates that year he was the only one who was successful in securing an ap- pointment and was the first non-grad- nate eff West Point since the Civil War to secure appointment in tho Corps of Engineers. He has now had 10 years service in tho Corps of Engineers.
 'He went overseas carly in 1917 with tho First Combat Engineers and served in tho First Division dur ing tho early operations. He was thcn placed in charge of searchhights, developed and organized the search light service for the entire American Expedftionary Forces, and command ed his regiment through all the of fensfve of 1918, serving successiyely with tho British, French and Ameri- can armies. After the armistice, he was engaged in road and reclamation work in the advanced area, thcn served on the War Damages Section of the Peace Commission in Paris, and was finally placed in charge of engineering activities at Bordeaux