Evening star., 1943-03-15
Company Of Engineers
Headed by D. {. Man
Commended in Africa
Copt. Edwin /. Powell, Jr,
Is q and Graduate Of
West Point in 1o4I
BY NOLAND NORGAARD,

American feld artillery battalion
whose batteries OF 05-millimeter
guns unleased 4 terrific shelling and
played a major role in breaking the
back OF German tank attack from
the Hatab Valley toward Thala in
Marshal Erwin Rommels recent
Central Tunisian thrust has been
commended in 4 special citation.
The citation said the fire OF the
battalion commanded by 1t. Col.
George c. Wrockloff OF Lake Geneva,
Wis, was placed with such accu-
racy and precise timing that enemy
attacks were repulsed and dispersed
before they were actually launched"
The shelling, which enabled
American tanks to take full ad-
vantage OF enemy disorganization,
was carried out despite severe dive
bombing attacks on the batteries
| during one critical period.
| The American command also cited
reconnaissance company which
maintained A constant fiow of ac-
curate information on enemy move
ments during the action, an en-
gineer company which laid mine
fields and cleared German mine
barriers, 4 combined detachment
which maintained communications
during the battle and three groups
OF men who performed especially
meritorious acts.
d. G. Man in Command.
The engineer company commended
was in command OF Capt. Edwin
l.. Powell, jr 23-year- -old West Point
| graduate and son Of Mr.. and Mrs.
E. L. Powell OF 37l1 Alabama ave-
nue. Sc, Washington, D. c. The
company was credited with laying
minefislds in = valley, which per-
mitted the use of other combat
troops with maximum effectiveness
against advancing enemy columns"
and also cited for the "efIicient and
prompt removal OF enemy mine
| fields, examination of captured ma
teriel for BOBBY traps, reconstruc-
ton OF roads and performance OF
miscellaneous missions"
Capt. Powell is 4 graduate of
Central High and attended the
Bullard School here before going
to West Point. He was appointed
by the District Commissioners to
the academy and was graduated
in 1941. His father is A radio
engineer at the Naval Research
laboratory
The reconnaissance company
cited was commanded by Can't.
Gerald Yeiter. Lowell, Mich The
citation said that dangerous mis-
sions were undertaken by all ranks
without the slightest hesitation.
Much information was obtained in
the face of heavy enemy fire. with
losses held to an absolute minimum
within the organiza ton by reason
OF skillful battle leadership and
good judgment"
A citation for 4 combined detach-
ment under Capt. Richard Moran,
81, Fairfield. Conn, lauded the unit
for establishing radio communica-
ton between United States combat
forces after the Germans had scored
4 hreak-through.
Ambulance Crew Cited.
Capt. Moran personally visited
many units. travelling over the bat
tleground At night and through ad-
verse weather.
Three members of an ambulance
crew were cited for driving through
heavy enemy artillery fire to take
two wounded soldiers OF the battle
f1eld. They were Technician Fred
]. Stone OF Sophia, w. Va: Tech
nician Walter Craft, Dunnellen,
N. j., and Pvt. Val Meier, East Salt
Lake City. Utah.
-Four others were cited for per
forming their duties despite shelling
and enemy tank and infantry at
tacks in such manner that "they
greatly aided our forward observer
IN adjusting the fire Of our bat
TALON With such speed and ae-
curacy that 1t WAS instrumental In
the defeat OF enemy forces"
They were Technician Buell.
Wright. East Gadsden, Ala; Pie.
Louis Forray, Filbert, W. Va; Pvt.
Sheldon Corle, Pavia, Pa, and Pvt.
Charles Reed. Fleming, KY.
Another citation WAS given seven
men for remaining at their assigned
post and carrying out their duties
in highly proficient manner de-
spite heavy artillery flre and con-
tinuous threat of attack by enemy
infantry and tanks"
They were Teehnician Richard
Wolfe, Columbia City. Ind: Pfc.
Denis Finnegan, Bayonne, N. j.; Pfc.
Connie O'Connor, Covington, Va:
Pvt. Leonard Horn. Elmhurst, N. Y;
Pvt. Sheldon Hill, Tucson, Arix.;
Pvt. Chester Lankford, Sunshine.
KY and Pvt. George Forester, Potts
CamD AiSS