The Alaska daily empire., 1923-01-15
COTWALS GIVEN
 DISTINGUISHED
 SERVICE MEDAL
Notable Decoration Awarded Local Officer for Con-
 spicuous War Service.

Award of the Distinguished Service Medal was made to Col. ]. C. GOtwals by the War Department on December 15 last, for conspicuous services rem dcred by him in France during the World War, according 10 official notification received here today. The medal has been forwarded to the Commanding General Ninth Corps Area. Presidio, San Francisco for presentation to Colonel Gotwals.
 The citation recommended to ac- company the D. S. M declared:
 "Major John C. Gotwals, formerly Lieutenant Colonel, Corps of En- gineers, for exceptionally meritorious and conspicuous service in the ere ation, equipment, training and light ing of the Searchlght Units (56th Engineers) of the American Experi- tionary Forces. After demonstrating his creative ability in developing while a member of the Board of En- gineer Troops numerous items of en- gineer equipment needed in the World War, he served in France from August 20, 1917, to November Is, 1918, in command of the 56th Engineers successively with the British army in the Somme Defen- sive, the French army in the Somme Defensive and the Aisne Offensive, and with the First and Second American armies in the St. Mihiel and -Argonne Offensives. The conspicuous success of the co-opera- tion of the searchlights and pursuit planes in combating enemy night bombers was due largely to his ex- ceptional ingenuity, initiative and tireless vigilance" The citation also mentions service as member of the Board of Engineers, Command of all Searchlight Troops, director of Anti Aircraft Searchlight School at Lan- gres. in charge of Searchlight o. c. E., c. H. O., in charge of evacua- ton of Second Army and Advance Sections S. o. S. Areas, in charge of Base Section No 2.
 Praises Old Regiment
 While Colonel Gotwals is naturally
 
 his principal pleasure is "in the recognition of the services performed by the regiment carrying out all the searchlight work of the A. F. F.. and also with British and French forces, which were of really signific- ant value in combating night bomb ing activities of the German forces. He went over in August, 1917, as captain in command of a company of TO Engineer troops. Of that number 120 were retained as the nucleus for the Searchlight Troops which were merged into the 56th Engineers, numbering 2.500 men.
 His duties given briefly without attempting to go into detail includ- ed: Al the Front with the First and Second American Armies and French and British forces, directing the oper- ations of Searchlight Troops from the 56th Engineers and developing searchlights in bringing down en- emy night bombing machines, and commanding the 56th Engineers; at G. H. O., American Expeditionary Forces. in charge of Searchlight sec tion; at Army Schools. director of the anti-aircraft searchlight school in the Service of Supply, in charge of all the matters pertaining to searchight supply and experimenta- tion. directing the searchlight depot and machines at Gievres the advance searchlight depot at Ft. Du Mont Valeren; directing the American section with American Air Service for searchlight training at Chateau Dun; advising in all directions from the A. E F. to the War Department at home with reference to search light material and personnel ad- yising the Chief of Engineers of. flee in the United States with refer ence 10 searchlight experimentation.
 Board Reverses Self
 Colonel Gotwals was recommended for the D. s. NJ while in France and again in the United States. The Board of Decoration turned down the recommendations under an establish ed rule that the medal would not be awarded to officers under the rank of Colonel. In lieu he was given a certificate for meritorious service. Recommendations were renewed again last year and the board re. versed it's former action. Breaking the above mentioned rule, however. does not violate any precedent said Colonel Gotwals, as it has been done on former occasions in a few in stances.