Evening star., 1942-06-15
Two Men Awarded
Soldiers Medals
By Gen. Macarthur
Is Silver Stors-und
IS Purple Hearts
Also Announced
/, the ASsariated press

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AUSTRALIA. June 15.-Gen. Doug
las Macarthur announced today the
first awards of the Soldiers Medal
in this area to First 1t. Edward
Hubbard, Medical Corps, and Pvt.
Woodrow Ravenscraft, Field Artil-
Iery, for saving lives at the risk of
their own last March %.
1t. Hubbard's home is at Peter
borough, N. H., and Pvt. Ravens
craft lives at Greenfield, Ohio.
Their heroism was displayed when
a flying boat transporting military
personnel struck an object while
landing in the darkness at an Aus
tralian port. The craft turned over
and began to sink in the shark-in-
tested waters.
1t. Hubbard broke through the
cabin window and crawled onto
wing. Twice he re-entered the
nearly submerged cabin to rescue
two enlisted men.
Pvt. Ravenscraft, before attempt
ing TO escape, released another SOL
dier who was pinned down by ma
chine gun. He reached temporary
safety by crawling through window
onto the wing when another SOL
dier who had been rescued uncon-
scious from the cabin dragged him
under water.
Pvt. Ravenscraft freed himself
and regained the wing with this
soldier. The citation said Pvt. Ra-
venscraft was instrumental In saw
ing the lives of two others.
Silver Stars Given.
Fifteen United States officers and
a sergeant were awarded Silver
Stars and 35 enlisted men Purple
Heart decorations yesterday for gal
lantry in action and devotion to
duty during the long-distance raid
from Australia on the Japanese in
the Philippines on April II.
! In four attacks, these men de-
stroyed several Japanese transports,
number of planes and many
gound installations.
/ One of the Silver Stars was
awarded posthumously to Second
1t. John J. Keeter, jr., of Throck-
morton, Tex. Other officers deco
rated were:
Capt. Paul I. Gum, First Its.
Frank P. Bender, John D. Feltham,
Gustave M. Heiss. jr.; John r. Linn,
James B. MacAfee, James H. Man
gan. Harold v. Maull, Thomas p.
Talley and Bennett G. Wilson; Sec
ond Its. Malcolm E. Peterson,
Edwin c. Townsend. Leland A.
Walker, jr., and Howard B. West.
A Silver Star also was conferred
on Staff Sergt. Ralph E. Mouser.
Purple Hearts Awarded.
Enlisted men who received Purple
Hearts:
Master Sergts. Firman S. Adams,
Ray A. Oliver, Technical Sergts.
George H. Bengal, Norman L. Gates,
Alonzo j. Jones, Melvin E. Owens,
Alden L. Simmons, Henry S. Shippers,
William B. Wherry and Luther D.
Word.
Staff Sergts. John P. Butler, Will
liam R. Crutchfield, Kenneth w.
Gatewood, Cryial A. Moore, Arnold
M. Thompson: Sergts. Guy E. Clan
ton, o. c. Cook, Kenneth A. Cooper,
Lawrence H. Cooper, James w.
Miller, Jimmy D. Morris, Normas
H. Sales. Marion K. Smith and
Lionel G. Young.
Corpls. Alfred A. Fave, Noah
Frequez, Chester L. Hatcher. George
H. Nelson, Robert. H. Newman,
Hodges K Rigdon, Stephen L. Tay-
lord; First Glass Pvts. Francis M.
Fowler, Joseph A. Paradise. Francis
H. Pryor and Arthur j. White.
The award was conferred posthu-
mously on Sergt. Morris, whose
home was in Jonesboro, La.
The decorations were conferred
by 1t. Gen. George H. Brett, COM
mander in chief of the Allied air
forces in Australia, at the direction
Of President Roosevelt.