Evening star., 1942-04-29
President Adds ? More Names
To Roll of Heroes in Pacific

o kOu or nero
President Roosevelt has added
two more names to the roll of Amer
ican heroes in the Southwestern Pa
cific-an Army bomber pilot who
battled 18 japanese fighters to at
tack an enemy transport fleet and
naval physician who brought II
wounded sailers from Java inferno
to safety in Australia.
Singled out for personal mention
by the President in his address to
the Nation last night were Capt
Hewitt T. Wheless, 28, OF Menard,
Tex, and 1t. Comdr. Corydon Nc
Almont Wassell of Little Rock. Ark
On his way with four other bomb
ers to attack the Japanese trans
port fleet. Capt. Wheless' craft de-
veloped engine trouble and arrived
over the target after the others had
stirred up the Jap pursuit planes.
Despite the mass attack by 18
fighters, the bomber dropped all of
its projectiles on six enemy trans
ports. Then a running fight de-
veloped. 1t lasted for IS miles.
Desperate Battle in Air.
-Four pursuit ships attacked 81
multaneously at each side, and were
shot down with the side guns" the
President said.
During the fight the bombers
radio operator was killed, the en-
gineer's right hand was shot off and
one gunner was crippled, leaving
only one man available to operate
both side guns. Although wounded
in one hand. this gunner alternately
manned both side guns, bringing
down three more Japanese Zero
planes.
While this was going on one
engine on the bomber was shot out,
one gas tank was hit, the radio was
shot of and the oxygen system was
entirely destroyed. Out of IL con-
troll cables all but four were shot
away. The rear landing wheel was
blown of and the two front wheels
were both shot fat"
With two engines gone and the
plane practically out Of control Capt.
Wheless finally reached base after
dark and made an emergency land
ing.
Capt. Wheless Listening.
After telling Of Capt. Wheless'
exploit President Roosevelt added,
1T hope he is listening"
Capt. Wheless was listening. With
his 23-year -old wife. Mrs. Ray
monda Jean Wheless. and their
6-month-old daughter. he sat by
the radio at their home in Fresno,
Calf, during the Presidents ad-
dress.
And down in Menard, Tex, the
air heros parents, Mr.. and Mrs.
Hewitt Wheless, also were listening
All of them said they had no idea
the President was going to mention
the flyers feat.
Capt. Wheless declined to talk. His
wife said he's quiet and retiring
and thinks he merely did his duty
in carrying out a task that won
him the Distinguished Service Cross.
The other hero cited by the Presi-
dent, DR.. Wassell. a 57-year-old for
mer missionary in China, was car
ing for wounded from the cruisers
Houston and Marblehead in Java.
When the Japanese came, DR..
Wassell remained with II badly
wounded men despite danger of
capture. He improvised stretchers
and got the men to the seacoast-a
5o-mile journey.
A Shepherd to His Flock.
"The men were suffering severely"
Mr.. Roosevelt said. But DR.. Wassell
kept them alive by his skill, and in
spired them by his own courage.
"As the official report said, DR..
Wassen was almost like Christ
like shepherd devoted to his flock
"On the seacoast, he embarked the
men on a little Dutch ship. They
were bombed and machine-gunned
by waves of Japanese planes. DR..
Wassen took virtual command Of
the ship, and by great skill avoided
destruction, hiding in small bays
and inlets. A few days later DR..
Wassell and his little flock Of
wounded men reached Australia
safely"
The President said DR.. Wassell
had been awarded the Navy Cross
for his meritorious service.
Mrs. Albert Wassell, 86-year-old
mother of DR.. Wassell, heard Presi-
dent Roosevelt relate the story of
her sons heroism at her home in
Little Rock and then declared she
was happy that my son could be
of so much help"
Squalus Fights Again.
President Roosevelt also referred
to the fact. disclosed by the Navy
Saturday, that it was the former
submarine Squalus which foundered
of Portsmouth, N. H., in 1899. SAL
vaged and renamed the Sailflsh,
which scored torpedo hits on jap
anese aircraft carrier in the Battle
of Macassar Strait. The Sailfish
also attacked a cruiser and sank q
destroyer.
After noting that three Of the