Evening star., 1942-12-02
NaW's Job in Pacific
will Become More
Difficult, Nimitz Says
D. c. Officer Among II
Receiving Medals From
Admiral at Sub Base
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
PEARL HARBOR. r. H. Dec. q
The job ahead for the Navy in the
Pacific will mount in difficulty as it
moves forward into areas more
strongly held by the enemy" Ad
miral Chester w. Nimitz said yes
terday, but our efforts in the past
year have inspired the entire fleet
with a dauntless spirit which gives
me full confidence in ultimate VIC
tory
The commander in chief of the
Pacific Fleet spoke at a presentation
of medals to 81 officers and men at
the submarine base.
1T is pleasure to present awards
TO this particular group as the first
year of the war comes to a close. "
he said. Submarines and air units
have been the spearheads of our
early efforts to push the enemy back
and to establish stepping stones for
our advance.
we in the Pacific Fleet were
greatly cheered by the successes of
our submarines in destroying enemy
shipping, much Of it within sight
of his principal harborS. Similarly
the courage and tireless devotion
of the air arm has been powerful
stimulus to the feet.
Many Officers Being Trained.
Il am mindful of the complex task
this war has imposed on trained
personnel This is true particularly
of officers of the submarine service
While carrying on highly success
full battles in distant waters against
a reSolute enemy, they have had to
train thousands of officers and men
TO man new construction.
'As an example, l mention 1t.
Jack R Crutchfield, who is to receive
the Silver Star Medal. A new sub
marine to which he was attached as
diving officer withstood three sep
arate and severe depth -chafge at
taCkS largely because of his enter
prise and tireleSs energy in training
all personnel in the submerged ship
control party.
Il especially commend the work of
three flying officers They are Capt.
F.. P. Sherman, commanding officer
of the (aircraft carrier Wasp when
she was lost by enemy action in the
South Pacific; 1t. Comdr. Wallace
M Beakley, who commanded the
WaSp'S air group. and 1t. Harold H.
Larsen, commander of Torpedo
Squadron 8.
Capt. Sherman was largely re-
sponSible for the excellent planning
of air support which made possible
the complete success of our initial
occupation of the Solomon Islands
last August.
Above Tulagi for Eight Hours.
ut was 1t. Comdr. Beakley who
co-ordinated and supervised the exc
cutiOn of air support in these am
phibious operations. He remained
on station in the air above Tulagl
for eight hours until the success of
our efforts was assured.
The unquenchable fighting spirit
which Torpedo Squadron displayed
in its attack on Japanese carriers at
Midway has since brought much
misery to the Japs in the South
Pacific.
For the past three months this
unit of veterans has been shore based
on Guadalcanal under the able
guidance of 1t. Larsen. They have
made 40 successful attacks on enemy
shipping and contributed in an i'm
portant degree to our major victories
off Savo Island November 12-l5.
Capt. Sherman, whose home is at
Melrose, Mass, and Comdr. Beakley
of Vineland. N. j., were among nine
to whom Nimitz awarded Navy
Crosses, the former being cited ad-
ditionally for directing his ship in
pursuit OF japanese forces retiring
from the Solomons area August 25.
d. c. Officer Gets Cross.
Others to receive the crosses in
cluded:
1t Comdr. Harry H McIlhenny,
washington, D. c.. commanding Off
Ger Ol d ueSGIUy WIlICll lOIIcu
japanese submarine to surface with
a depth charge and then destroyed it
by gunfire.
Lit. Comdr Thomas B. Klakring,
Annapolis, Md, submarine COM
mander, whose craft sank eight
enemy ships off the coast of Japan
and damaged four others.
1t. Larsen of Birmingham. Ala,
the torpedo squadron commander,
cited particularly for scoring a di-
rect hit on a japanese cruiser in the
Solomons August "a.
1t. Robert A Divine, Fresno. Calf.
and 1t. Corwin F.. Morgan, Gaines
vile, Fla, for torpedoing a Jap
cruiser August "a, and 1t. Robert f.
Ries, st. Louis, for participating in
the same attack in which 1t Larsen