Evening star., 1945-04-18
Knerr, Once Si|enced
For Critical Remarks,
Gets ; Decorations

Maj. Gen Hugh J. Knerr, 5000
Cathedral avenue NV, deputy COM
manding general for administration
of the American Strategic Air
Forces, received two Legion of Merit
awards and Bronze Star Medal in
London yesterday from Gen. Carl
Spaatz, force commander, an Asso-
ciated Press dispatch related.
Gen Knerr, a graduate of the
Naval Academy who transferred to
the Army in 1911, returned to active
duty from retirement in June, 1943.
He went overseas with the AAF soon
afterward. He was decorated with
the Distinguished Service Medal
last September. Gen. Knerr served
several tours of duty in Washington
during the last 10 years.
A flyer since the early days of
the last war, Gen. Knerr was an
associate of the late Brig. Gen.
William Mitchell, and, like the gen.
eral fought for recognition of air
power at a time it was rated a
minor weapon. In October, 1912,
Gen. Knerr. then retired colonel
was ordered to stop making public
addresses on the war. Secretary of
War Stimson issued the order after
the officer had criticized aviation
policies and Admiral Thomas c..
Hart in particular for a magazine
article opposing a separate air arm.
Vice Admiral Daniel E. Barley, SIS,
whose wife, Mrs. Katherine G. Bar
hey, formerly lived at the Kennedy
Warren Apartments, 3133 Connectl-
cut avenut N. w, has been awarded
a gold star in lieu of second Dis
tinguished Service Medal. The dec
Grafton was awarded for Admiral
Barbey's services while commander
of the Amphibious Force of the 7th
Fleet and as Commander Of the
Northern attack force at Leyte.
"Vice Admiral Barley and in
trepid forces under his command
effected successful surprise landings
at Noemfoor on July 2, at SanSapor
in July and at Moratei on Septem-
Der Is. 1914. thereby establishing
COuIll"CSO dSlllS an 4ol bNo NA'AiAii
effective striking distances of the
Philippines" the citation said.
He was also praised in connection
with actions at Leyte and at Lin
gayen Gulf.
Brig. Gen. Charles d. Palmer. 9Th
Corps chief of staff of the 7th Army,
was awarded the Legion OF Merit
for exceptionally meritorious Serv-
ices for the period August IS, 1912,
to September 25. 1914, in the United
States, England. France and Bel
GUM" Gen. Palmer, formerly sta
toned in Washington, is a graduate
of West Point and has been overseas
% months on two tours of duty.
1t. Col. James o. Boswell, 33, son
of Col. w. o. Boswell, retired, and
Mrs. Boswell of 1747 @ street NV,
was presented the Silver Star Medal
for "gallantry in action against the
Nazis" by Maj. Gen. James A. Van
Fleet. Goth Infantry Division COM
mander, recently in Germany. Col.
Boswell. the citation said. assumed
personal responsibility for an attack
and, disregarding danger, by his
personal courage over and beyond
that which was expected, greatly
facilitated the formulation and
execution of the plan Of maneuver."
A West Point graduate, Col. Boswell
has been with Gen. Patton'S army
since D day.
IS Arthur B. Rounds, son of Col
and Mrs William B. Rounds of 34l6
Rodman street NV, recently be-
came one of the few Americans to
receive the Chinese Grand Star OF
Honor Medal. receiving the award
for outstanding and distinguished
service rendered by him to the re-
public of China and to the Chinese
Army" He is a member of the Chi
nese Combat Command. whose
American members. under Maj. Gen.
r. B. Mcclure. work with Chinese
troops. He has been engaged pri-
marily in teaching Chinese troops
the methods of modern warfare.
T.5 Rounds is graduate OF
Woodrow Wilson High School and
was working as clerk for the De-
fense Homes Corp. at the time he
entered the service In July, 1943.
Hen went overseas in March, 1914.
Pvt Julius Fleischman, %, of 50l9