Evening star., 1945-11-18
News of District Area Men
In the Armed Forces
k;Iled routes in the China -Bul

Killed
End 1t. Charles w. Kelley, Is,
who was reported missing on No
vember rs, 1914, has been declared
dead, the War Department has
informed his parents, Mr.. and Mrs.
w. r. Kelley, 1915 Longfellow street,
Hyattsville, Md.
1t. Kelley, a fighter pilot. was
missing after flight over Germany.
He had been q machinist at the
Navy Yard here before entering the
Army Air Forces in January, 1943.
His widow, Mrs. Edna Kelley, lives
in North Carolina. He also is sur
vived by sister, Miss Helen M.
Kelley, and a brother, John S.
Kelley, who has recently been dis
charged after serving overseas with
the Air Forces.
Decorations
Brig. Gen. Adam Richmond, whose
wife, Mrs. Anna Richmond, lives at
l25 Glenbrook road, Bethesda, has
received an oak leaf cluster to the
Legion of Merit for performance of
outstanding services as theater
Judge advocate in the Mediterranean
Theater of Operations.
In a recent ceremony at CaSerta,
Italy, Gen. Richmond was cited for
establishing and maintaining I'm a
superior manner and beyond the
normal scope of his duties" the
United States Claims Service in the
theater.
Col. Clarence H. Osthasen, Air
Forces, on duty in the Once of
Assistant Chief of Air Staff, lst
AAF Headquarters here. was pre-
sented the Legion of Merit in a
ceremony at the Pentagon recently,
the War Department announced.
The award was given in recogni-
ton of Col. Ostagen's planning and
organizing an all-inclusive personnel
management program contributing
to the effective and efficient utili-
zation of both military and civilian
War IL"
1t. Col. Eugene w. Weber, Engi-
neers, 8416 Woodcliff court, Silver
Spring, recently received the Legion
of Merit for Exceptionally merito-
rious conduct in the performance
of outstanding services" from July
l, 1914, to May n, this year, when
he served under the assistant chief
of staff, GA, at ETO headquarters.
During the period of service for
which he was cited, Col. Weber was
responsible for staff activities in
connection with reception and
movement of supplies and for the
development of supply movement
program" which was a significant
factor in the successful accomplish
ment of the extensive job of trans
porting personnel, equipment and
supplies in the theater.
Commodore Alexander S. Wither-
spoon, U. s. NJ, 1900 Rodman street
NV, recently was presented the
Bronze Star for meritorious service
in operations against the Japs dur
ing amphibious assaults on Two
Jima; Okinawa and Tsugen Jima,
the Navy announced.
From January to April, 1945, as
commander of Transport Squadron
Al. the citation states, Commodore
Witherspoon demonstrated out
standing initiative, skill, resource
fulness and professional ability in
preparing plans for, organizing and
directing the landing of assigned
troops on enemy held beaches. DUR
ing the assaults, it continues, de-
spite enemy air attacks. mortar and
artillery fire, he supervised the un-
loading of his division at the OBJ
jective. -t
Other area men who have been
awarded the Bronze Star Medal for
meritorious achievement in action,
according to information reaching
The Star, are: Col. Edmund r.
Shusart, 1t. Col. Hans G. Jepson,
Pfc. william S. Mccormick, Serxt.
Charles A. Richards, T/Sergt. Her
bert A. SemIer.
1t. u. g. Robert w. Eastman,
U. S. N. r., son of Mr.. and Mrs.
Franklin D. Eastman, 4767 Twenty
fourth road, Arlington, was award
ed the Air Medal with two Oak Leaf
Clusters in recent ceremonies at
the Naval Auxiliary Air Station,
Oceana, Va, the Navy announced.
The Arlington flyers first Air
Medal was awarded for meritorious
acts while participating in attacks
on the Philippines and Formosa
from January 4 to this year. The
second award was made for similar
attacks on Formosa, French Indo-
China and China from January 8
to 81.
The third award was made for
Photographic missions in which ex-
cellent coverage was effected de-
spite intense antiaircraft fire and
for never losing an opportunity to
inflict damage on the enemy. These
missions were carried out over the
Philippines, Formosa, Nansei Shoto,
China Sea and Tokyo areas between
February 3 and Is this year.
Other air awards made to Wash
ington area men recently include:
Distinguished Flying Cross.
1t. Merritt O. Chance, USMCR,
Brookeville, Md, for participation in
flights in the Ryukyu Islands against
enemy installations during April
and May this year.
S/Sergt. John H. Finks, 1922 Elev-
enth street NV, for repeatedly fly
ing hazardous cargo missions over
air routes in the China -Burma-In-
dia theater.
Air Medal.
Ensign Albert o. Polston, USNR,
l59 INLAND terrace NE, for par
ticipation in 29 combat missions over
enemy-held Southwest Pacific terri
tory from June l to October S, 1914,
in the vicinity of Jap airfields and
despite grave hazards.
1St 1t. Mckinney p. CosIer- 3q35