Evening star., 1945-07-07
Gen. kyron R. Wood
Wins Legion Of Honor
And Croix de Guerre

Brig. Gen. Myron r. Wood, 4607
Connecticut avenue NV, COM
mander of the 9th Air Service COM
mand, was decorated yesterday in
Paris by the French government
with the Legion of Honor and Croix
de Guerre with Palm, the Associated
Press reported. A native Of Denver,
Colo, Gen. Wood has been in the
Regular Army since the World War,
has done several tours Of duty in
Washington, and has been overseas
in this war nearly three years.
He is a command pilot and wears
the Legion of Merit and two deco
rations from the government OF
Luxembourg.
Col. Melvin C. Smith, 4007 Con-
necticut avenue NV, recently re-
ceived the Legion of Merit for
his outstanding efficiency and meri-
torious services as chief Of the
procurement section of the supply
division, Air Technical Service Com
mand in Europe.
"Col Smiths extraordinary judg-
ment and tact in his relations with
high ofacials of Allied governments
combined with his initiative and
untiring industry resulted in the
procurement of supplies and equip
ment vital to the success of the
USAAF in Europe" the citation
states. Col. Smith, oversees more
than three years, also has been
awarded the Bronze Star.
1t. Col. william A. Susamann,
1856 Sedgewick road NV, recently
received the Silver Star for gal
lantry in action when, according
to the citation, the colonel re-
peatedly demonstrated aggressive
leadership and personal bravery in
the face of enemy fire, it was re-
Vealed in a dispatch from Germany.
"Col. Susamann's gallant actions
were a constant inspiration to the
officers and men under his COM
mand," the citation states. The
colonel is a battalion commander
with the 9Th Armored Division in
Germany.
SISergt. Charles A. Russell, ST.,
7790 Marlboro pike, Forestville, Nd,
has been awarded the Silver Star
for gallantry in action against the
enemy on January 10, 1945, near
Belgium. when neither artillery
nor cannon observers could bring fire
upon enemy entrenched behind
hedgerows, Sergt. Russell, a NOR
tar observer, crawled through snow
amid a hail Of enemy machine-gun
fire to the rear. Contracting his
platoon over the radio and ordering
mortar fire, he crawled back.
He poured concentrated fire on the
enemy, keeping them in their holes
as a patrol moved into position" the
citation accompanying the award
reads. Later, when the patrol could
not withdraw because of heavy
enemy fire, he crawled once again
to the rear to order smoke screen
which permitted the squad to with
draw.
Sergt. Rudolph Prophet, 44l0I
Goult place NE, has been deco
rated with the Silver Star for gal
lantly firing bazooka into the lead
tank of a German column from an
exposed position, according to a
dispatch from Germany. The ad-
vance of his platoon was held up by
the heavy enemy fire until Sergt.
Prophet successfully crippled the
tank. His gallant actions and great
courage contributed immeasurably
to the defeat of the enemy attack, "
the citation states.
1t. Col. Ladder b. MackaI, 340l
Woodley road NV, has been dec
Grated with the Soldiers Medal for
outstanding heroism in the face
of great danger as pilot OF B-2s'
it was announced by the 58th Wing
Headquarters on Tinian. The cita-
tion added that Col. Mackah had
nursed crippled aircraft to friendly
territory, made hazardous land
ing on a short emergency airstrip,
and, after temporary repair had
been effected, made a risky but sue
cessfu takeoff from the same air