Evening star., 1942-12-16
7 Destroyer Captains
7 Seamen Honored
For Aid 10 Carriers
Admiral HoIsey Makes
Heroism Awards on
Boord Ship at Sea
BY CHARLES McMURTRY,

FLEET IN THE SOUTHWEST PA
CIFIC, Dec. 6 Delayed Two sea-
men who risked their lives and a
destroyer captain who risked his
ship to save survivors from a car
rier sunk in the battle of Santa
Cruz Island October 26 were cited
for heroism today.
Admiral William F. Halsey, fleet
commander in the Southern Pacific,
made the awards aboard a ship
at sea. The Navy Cross was given
to Comdr. Wallis Frederick Peter
son, Council Bluffs. Iowa and Silver
Stars to Torpedoman First Glass;
James A. Golden and Seaman (First
Class o. S. Downie, both of Vine
yard Haven, Mass.
Additionally, the Navy Cross and
Distinguished Service Medal were
presented to Comdr. Arnold Ellis
worth True of San Carlos, Calf =,
and Corinth, KY. He was the cap
tain of a destroyer which rescued
survivors of the carrier Lexington
in the battle of the Coral sea and
later was sunk trying to save the
carrier Yorktown off Midway.
L was a lucky witness to the feats
for which Comdr. Peterson. Tor
pedoman Golden and Seaman
Downie were honored but had not
met the men until today.
Came Alongside Carrier.
Comdr. Peterson's destroyer helped
screen the carrier was on dts loss
was announced October 81 but its
name has not been disclosed
against relentless attacks by Jap
bomber and torpedo planes.
After the carrier was disabled and
listing badly, Comdr. Peterson
brought the destroyer alongside by
superb seamanship. Disregarding
the imminent danger of further
aerial attack. the little ship pumped
water and helped extinguish fires
aboard the carrier
Although three times driven of
as the Japs repeated their bomb
ing and torpedoing, Comdr. Peter
son each time returned alongside
and took survivors aboard. This
continued until every survivor had
been picked up by his and other
ships in the task force.
Torpedoman Golden and Seaman
Downie, both of the same destroyer,
were cited for distinguished service
and heroism."
Seaman Downie dived overheard
into water swarming with sharks
and carried rescue lines to men who
had abandoned the carrier and
were floating at some distance from
the ship. LAS result of such out
standing zeal, courage and persist
ence during three and half hours
in the water" his citation said,
many were rescued who otherwise
might not have been saved
Disregarded Own Safety.
OF Torpedoman Golden, Admiral
Halsey said "Disregarding personal
safety, he courageously braved the
shark infested waters to assist in
the rescue of survivors. Once he
swan without life vest to the aid
of drowning man and brought
him aboard. saving his life"
Torpedoman Golden also made re-
peated trips with lines and buoys to
other men calling for help. On one
occasion. when the destroyer was
forced to leave at high speed to
avoid renewed aerial attack, he
swan to a raft and helped others
there until the rescue ship was able
to return and pick him up.
Comdr. True received the Navy
Cross for extraordinary heroism in
rescuing Lexington survivors. While
there still was danger of another
attack by japanese planes and while
the Lexington still was being shaken
by explosions and Quilted by raging
fires. Comdr True, in total dis
regard of his own safety, brought his
ship alongside and took off sur
vivors," the citation said
Comdr. True's Distinguished Serv-
ice Medal was in recognition Of
heroic conduct and especially mer-
itorious service in attempting to
salvage tne YOrktOWn June b.
Helped Fight Fire.
The commander came alongside
the stricken carrier with the de-
stroyer Hamman, although the
Yorktown was listing heavily as the
result of torpedo hits received in
battle June 4. The Hamman sup
piled water to fight devastating
fire aboard the carrier and to flood
its empty tanks. 1t also helped cor
rect the Yorktown's list and hooked
its electric power to the salvage
pumps aboard the larger vessel.
For eight hours the Hamman
maintained its dangerous position.
Then it was torpedoed by a Jap
submarine and sunk. Two more
torpedoes sank the Yorktown.
Comdr. True was rescued two
hours later. supporting an enlisted
man in each arm. The skipper was
so stunned and exhausted himself,
he was not aware that both had
died.