Evening star., 1942-10-15
Eight i. ). Airmen
Given Silver Stars,
Seven Get Clusters
Maryland Man Among
Those Honored by
Gen. Macarthur
BY the Associated Press.

| By the Associated Press.
GEN. MacARTHUR'S HEAD
QUARTERS, Australia, Oct. 15.-
Gen. Douglas MacArthur,s head
quarters announced today that eight
officers and men OF the Army Air
Forces had been awarded silver stars
for gallantry in action and that oak
leaf clusters had been awarded seven
previous winners OF the decoration.
The airmen winning the silver
stars we're:
First 1t. Clifton H. Troxell, Eclec-
tic, Ala; Second 1t. Marlin r.
Smith, Linthicum Heights. Nd;
Capt. Henry j. Hawthorne, San An
tonic, Tex; First 1t. William H. AM
brosius, Lynden, Wash: Stan Sergt.
James B. Bunch, Salt Lake City,
Utah; Sergt. Edwin Rhodes, Santa
Barbara, Calf; Sergt. Casimir j.
Slodki, johnson City, N. Y, and
Corpl. Lonnie D. Wright, North
Platte, Nebr.
The oak leaf clusters went to:
First 1t. John Robert Linn, Co.
lumbus, Ohio; Second 1t. Austin w.
Stitt, Frewsburg, N. Y; Capt. David
c. Rawls, San Antonio, Tex; Capt.
Melvin A. Mackenzie, Johnsbury
VT; Technical Sergt. John G. Nc
Kenna, Long Beach, Calf; Sergt.
Billie B. Sutton, Sebastopol, Calf :,
and Second 1t. Thomas P. Talley,
Smyrna, Ga.
Made Safe Landing on Reef.
Capt. Hawthorne, Flying Fort
ress pilot, was decorated for the
crash landing of plane during the
night on a coral reef with such skill
that none of the crew members was
injured.
| His citation said the crash land
ing became necessary after the
bomber had exhausted its fuel in
heavy weather on a raid August
over Rabaul, New Britain, in which
a formation of Fortresses downed
five of 20 Zeros which attempted to
intercept it.
1t. Ambrosius was cited for "cour-
age and skill in plotting a Flying
Fortress in a formation which
downed seven intercepting zeros
in 25-minute fight and then went
on to bomb the Vunakanau air.
drome at Rabaul on August 7, caus-
ing widespread destruction"
Sergt. Bunch won his award for
accurately dropping bombs when
his Flying Fortress fought its way
through flight of Zeros on August
to attack a japanese convoy of
the New Guinea coast.
Sergt. Rhodes was the rear gunner
on Flying Fortress attacked by a
Zero June II over Lac, New Guinea
He was seriously wounded but, his
citation said. lin spite of his injur-
les and severe pain he remained at
his guns and by excellent marks
manship' shot down a Zero in
flames.
Gunner Stays at Post.
Corpl. Wright. side gunner in
a Flying Fortress, was cited for
gallantry in remaining at his post
although wounded and aiding in
driving of fierce attack by IL Zero
fighters July 3 over Lac, New
Guinea.
1t. Linn, who won the Silver Star
for gallantry in attacks on the
enemy in the April raid on the
Philippines led by Brig. Gen. Ralph
Royce. was awarded the oak leaf
cluster for plotting a BIS bomber
in "a terrific running battle
against superior force of enemy
planes July 26 over New Guinea
When an accompanying BIS was
severely damaged, the citation said
1t. Linn "at great personal risk
maintained low speed and scorned
cloud protection SO he could protect
and lead to safety" the damaged
bomber. Over its New Guinea base
it went on. the lieutenant shielded
the crippled plane in landing from
Zeros' attacks" and his "heroism un-
doubtedly saved the lives of the
crew of the damaged plane"