The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-06-07
PURSUIT GROUP
IN new GUINEA
GETS II MEDALS
BY FRANK HEWI EFT
UNITED Press Staff Correspondent

pinned to the cotton shirts of men,
bers of the oldest and highest
scoring pursuit group in this area.
The mass decoration took place
at an advanced air base close to
a Japanese position in New Guinea
where the group now operates.
This unit had 225 Japanese
planes to its credit at the time of
the decorations.
Brigadier General Paul (Squeeze)
Wurtsmith pinned medals on the
long line of heroes and shook hands
with each man as the citation of
his achievement was read. Some
fighter pilots literally climbed out
of their planes fresh from patrol
missions to receive their decora-
tons
The group received a total of 80
Air Medals, 81 Distinguished Flying
Crosses, four Silver Stars, three
Purple Hearts and -Four Soldiers
Medals at the ceremony. Scores of
other medals had previously been
won by the group.
Decorations included:
Air Medal
Major William M. Redington,
Denver, Col
End 1t. Irwin Begdasarian, Sacra-
mento, Cal.
1st 1t. Robert A. McDaris, ITALIA
haSse, Fla.
LIST 1t. David F. Harbour, Cole
man, Tex.
End 1t. John Porteus, Portland,
Me.
End 1t. Duncan C. Myers Braden-
ton, Fla
End 1t. Birge A. Neumann, Los
Angeles, Cal.
End 1t. Thomas ]. Quinlivan,
Denver, Cal.
End 1t. Albert W. Smith, Newing-
ION, Va.
End 1t. Lawrence M. succop,
Oakmont, Pa.
LIST 1t. Clyde H. Barnett, Orlando,
Fla.
list 1t. Joe Littleton, Leesville, La.
End 1t. Russell A. Francis 632
Sedgewick Dr., Syracuse, N. Y.
End 1t. Richard j. Vodra, Los
Angeles, Cal.
End 1t. Robert H. White, Kansas
City, Mo.
Capt. William Haney, Los Angeles
Cal
Capt. Clay Tice, Jr,, Los Angeles,
Cal.
LIST 1t. Martin P Alger, FIT Dodge,
Ia.
LIST 1t. Clayton L. Barnes, Ever
son, Wash.
1st 1t. Ross Blachly, Pasadena,
Cal
LIST 1t. William R. Blocker, Palos
Verdes Estates, Cal
LIST 1t. Harry w. Brown, Amar-
lilo, Tex.
LIST Lit. Donald N. Byars, Portland,
Ore.
LIST 1t. Robert E. Douglas, Beaver
ton, Ore.
LIST 1t. William ]. Gersch, Bas-
iron, La.
LIST 1t. Clyde L. Harvey, Riverside,
Cal
LIST 1t Harold e. Hole, Marlin,
Tex.
LIST 1t. Norman D. Hyland, Mo-
bile, Ala.
LIST Lit. John D. Landers, Joshua,
Tex.
LIST It. Harry E. LindStrom, $685.
N. Rockwell ST., Chicago. Ill.
LIST 1t. Jock G. Mankin, Kansas
City, Mo.
LIST 1t. Walter M, Markey, City Is
land, N. Y.
LIST 1t John G. ONeill, Gasport,
N. Y.
list 1t. Keith E. Oveson, Utah.
LIST 1t. Carl G. Planck, Jr,
Charleston, S. c.
list 1t. Theron D. Price, Alexan-
dria, La.
LIST 1t. Charles L. Ralph, Coving-
ton, Tenn
1st 1t. Richard B. Stanton, YER
non, Tex.
list It, James A. Watkins, Crys-
tai Springs, Miss.
Distinguished Flying Cross
Capt. Ray Melikian Fresno, Cal.
Capt. Robert McHale, Harrison
burg, La.
list 1t, David A. Baker, Memphis,
Tenn
LIST Lit Sheldon S. Crimson, Balm
bridge, Ga.
lst 1t. Robert D. Eames, Bridge
port, Conn.
LIST 1t. John H. Griffith, 1888 S.
Carpenter st. Chicago, Ill.
LIST 1t. Ray M. Hilliard, Micaville,
N c.
LIST Lit. John J. Hood, Kansas City
Mo.
LIST 1t. Clyde v. Knisley, Jr.,
Greenville, Tenn.
LIST 1t. Lucius G. LaCroix, Gov
ington, La.
1st 1t. Howard Nelson, Des
MOineS, Ia.
LIST 1t. Paul j. Slocum, Ithaca, N.
Y.
LIST 1t, Arland Stanton, New Mil
ford. Pa.
Capt. Lawrence M. Kirsch, San
Diego, Cal.
LIST 1t. William c. Day, Jr., Red
Lion, Pa.
lst 1t. Ernest A. Harris, Norris
town, Tenn.
LIST 1t. Joe Littleton, Leesville, La.
LIST 1t. Lowell c. Luton, Kanka-
kee, Ill.
End 1t. Russell A. Frarcis, SYRIA
cuse. N. Y
Capt. Sidney S. Woods, somerton,
Ariz.
LIST 1t. John D. Landers, Joshua,
Tex.
Silver Stars
Capt. Franklin A. Nichols, San
Antonio Tex
LIST 1t. John J. Hood, Kansas City,
Mo.
1st It. Don L. Sutliff, Blackwell,
Okla.
End 1t. David w. Allen, Belvedere,
Cal
Purple Hearts
LIST 1t. David A. Baker, Memphis,
Tenn.
1st 1t. Leo M. Mayo, Monroe, La.
Sgt. Charles H. Mcdonald, Lake
land, Ga.