Evening star., 1945-07-05
Ten Naval Officers
Given Awards for
Meritorious Action

Rear AQmlrdl MaCJnlaS Is. GdrO-
ner, AZ, who resides on the flagship
Dauntless in the Washington Navy
Yard, headed list of 10 naval off,
GERS who today were presented with
decorations at ceremonies in the Of
flee of H. Streuve HenSel, Assistant
Secretary of the Navy.
Rear Admiral Gardner, assistant
chief of staff for plans, received the
Bronze Star Medal for meritorious
achievement while serving as COM
mander of a fast carrier task group
during operations in the Pacific in
March, 1945.
Capt. Harold o. Larson, AZ, at
tached to, the headquarters of the
commander in chief, United States
Fleet. who lives at 3276 Martha
Custis road, Alexandria, Va, re-
ceived the Bronze Star Medal for
meritoriouS service as commander
of the U. s. S. Pringle during mine
laying operations and the lombard
ment of shore installations against
Japanese strongholdS of Kolomban-
CARA, Shorthand and Bougainville
on the night of June %, 1943.
Capt. George A. Leahy, jr., 43, as
Sistant director of welfare activi-
ties, Bureau of Naval Personnel, who
resides at 1l12 Sixteenth street NV,
received the Bronze Star Medal for
meritorious achievement while ex-
ecutive officer of the battleship Iowa
from December, 1943, to August,
1914, in connection with training
and indoctrinating personnel.
Capt. Benjamin F. Perry, So, at
tached to the Office of Chief of Ma
val Operations, who lives at 1888
Kanawha street NV, received the
Bronze Star Neral for meritorious
service as commanding officer of the
U. s. S. San Diego during action
against Jap forces in the Santa
Cruz Islands on October 26, 1912.
Capt. George L. Russell, A, on
dity in the Office of the commander
of the feet and who lives at 204 E.
Columbia street, Falls Church, Va,
was given the Legion of Merit for
exceptionally outstanding service as
commander of submarine squad
ron from July S, 1914, to April 80,
1945
COmdr. Francis M. Falge, al, on
duty in the feet section of Naval
Communications, who lives at IA
Rokeby avenue, Garrett Park, Md,
received the Bronze Star Medal for
meritorius service as an operations
officer on the staff of commander
of battleship during assaults against
the enemy in the Marianas and
CarolineS. the islands of Leyte and
Mindoro in the Philippines and the
Battle of Surigao Strait.
COmdr. John A. Webster, 36, as
signed to the distribution division,
Bureau of Naval Personnel, who
lives in Arlington. Va, received the
Bronze Star Medal for meritorius
achievement as commander of a
warship in action in the North Pa
cf1c area August Q. 1914, to April
13, 1945.
Comdr. James w. McCauley, 80,
assigned to aviation training, who
lives at the Dorchester House, in
this city, received the Navy Cross
for heroism as commander of
composite squadron attached to the
U. S. S. Petrol Bay during action
against major units of the Jap fleet
off Samar october 25, 1914.
1t. George LathrOp, %, now at the
Naval Air Station, Anacostia, who
resides at 1907 Seventeenth street
Sc, received the Air Medal for
meritorious achievement as pilot of
a PB4-Y-1 bomber antisub patrols
in Bay of Biscay and English Chan
mel areas from September, 1943, to
September, 1914.
1t. Richard N. Kerst, 81, assigned
to the industrial readjustment
branch in the Navy Secretary's office
and who lives at 1917 Potomac street
NV, received the Bronze Star
Medal for meritorious achievement
while serving aboard the U. S. S.
Phoenix during operations in the
Southwest Pacific from December
%. l943. to February 16. 1945.