Evening star., 1943-12-13
Roosevelt
Continued From First Page.

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in action" in the bitter fighting at
Salerno, on the Italian mainland
1t. Gen. Mark w Clark, commander
of the 5th Army was one OF the
group which received the Distin-
gulShed Service Cross. The citation
said Gen. CLARK personally directed
an assault on column of German
tanks which brought about the de-
Struction of six and turned back
NaZi thrust.
Mr.. Roosevelts visit to the scene
of major American action was re-
ported to the White House in dis
patch from Maj. George E. Durno of
Washington, member of the presi-
Dental party. He said that the
officers greeting the President when
he landed in Sicily included Gen.
Patton. Later. at the invitation of
Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower. COM
mander in chief of the Mediter-
Clark rode with the President TO an
OTnCerS CluD.
Early Asked About Patton.
Asked at a press conference at
the White House today whether
this meeting meant that the Presi-
dent had put his o. K on Pat
ton in Sicily, Presidential Sec
retary Stephen Early told reporters
that he did not know what his
questioner was talking about.
Whats the White House got to
do with okaying Patton?" Mr. Early
inquired. He was assigned to do
a job BY Gen. Eisenhower and Gen.
Eisenhower is keeping him in COM
mand of the 7th Army. isn't hep"
Mr. Early said he couldn't imagine
anything the White House had TO
Go with the matter, since it does not
assign officers to commands either
| in the Unied States or abroad
While the Army. in making assign
mentS, does use the language by
direction of the President" MI
Early said that does not mean that
the President in person has any
thing whatever to do with it and
Secretary of War Stimson recently
had said as much.
The big transport plane used by
the President on his tour of the
battlehelds landed in CaStelvetrano,
in Southwestern Sicily. The Presi-
dent then proceeded by jeep to the
site Of the review, where troops from
four Army units participating in the
Slclllan invasion and airmen from
a carrier group which also had
taken part were drawn up
Five officers to be decorated-all
from the 5th Army-Were called to
the side of the Presidents car and in
turn the Chief Executive congratu-
lated and pinned the DISC on Col.
Reuben H. Tucker of Ansonia, Conn;
1t. Col. Joseph B. Crawford. Hum
bcldt, Kans. 1t William w. Kellogg,
Highland, Tex: 1t. Thomas F.
Bertreau, Chicago. and 1t Edwin F.
Gould, Orange. Calf.
Then to his obvious and utter
astonishment.' Maj Durno, former
White House correspondent report
&c, Gen. Clark heard his own name
called"
Gen. Clark's Citation.
The citation for the award to
Gen. Clark follows:
Mark Wayne Clark, lieutenant
general. for extraordinary heroism
is action. On September IA. 1943
the enemy launched an attack
which imperiled the Salerno bridge
head and the landings of the 5th
| Army in Italy. AS Army COM
mander, Gen. Clark went forward
to the front line There under enemy
artillery and machine gun fire he
displayed utter disregard for his
personal safety and spread an in
fectious spirit of determination and
courage. He stopped again and
! again to talk with the men telling
/ them that under no circumstances
must any ground be yielded
Gen. Clark discovered 18 Ger
man tanks within striking distance
He personally took charge of the
situation. locating an antitank unit.
and issued orders which resulted in
the destruction Of six tanks and the
repulsion Of the attack. BY his
magnificent display of leadership,
courage and determination during a
critical phase of the battle, 'front.'
line troops were inspired to hold at
all costs and subsequently to initiate
steady advance
After the decorations had been
awarded, the President drove along
the lines of fighting men for the
review.
Colonel Remained at Post.
Col. Crawford was decorated for
action near Niacomi, Sicily. The
citation said his position had been
attacked by German tanks and al
though his men were forced back
he remained at his observation post,
directing American artillery fire
while shells were falling within 200
yards of his position. Later. he was
wounded while trying to reioin his
battalion.
Col. Crawford is now assigned to
the Sd Division.
1t. Gould received his decoration
for action near Paestum, Italy.
His magnificent bravery and de-
votion to duty in spite of wounds
were a vital factor in the accom-
plishment of the battle mission" the
citation read.
1t Gould was in a forward OBJ
servation post September II under
fire of small arms, mortar and artil-
lery and in the face of German
infantry attack. His direction of
artillery fire broke up the German
| attack A direct hit On biz met OF