Evening star., 1945-10-08
Sergt. Fur Awarded
DSC Posthumous|v
For VaIor on Luzon

Sergt. William G. Furr, 33-year-
old Washington infantryman who
was killed by Japanese fire after
single handedly wiping out five en-
trenched Japanese positions during
action with the 32nd Division on
Luzon last March, has been awarded
the Distinguished Service Cross
posthumously.
In a recent ceremony in the Office
of Brig. Gen. Robert M. Young,
commanding general OF the Military
District of Washington, Sergt. Furr's
widow, Mrs. Lillian o. FUR, 3lI9
North Seventh street, Arlington, ac-
cepted the award.
Although fatally wounded by
enemy fire in taking the fifth DO
sition, Sergt. Furr, through his
extraordinary heroism," succeeded
in destroying, in addition. three ma
chine guns, numerous rifles and IAN
undetermined number of the en-
emy," the citation accompanying
the decoration said.
Sergt. Furr was employed by the
Government Printing Office and by
the Briggs Clarifier Co. prior to en-
tering the service in May, 1943.
His mother. Mrs. T. C. Furr, lives
at 1913 Wilson boulevard, Arlington.
Maj. Gen. Alfred M. Gruenther,
deputy commander of the United
States Forces in Austria, has been
presented the Oak Leaf Cluster to
the Distinguished Service Medal.
according to an Army dispatch from
Austria.
Gen. Gruenther, whose wife. Mrs.
Grace Crum Gruenther lives at
the Kennedy-Warren, was cited for
his service between January, 1943,
and May, 1945, as chief of staff of
the 5th Army and as chief of staff
of the 18th Army Group, during
Allied operations in North Africa
and Italy.
Gen. Gruenther forged the 5th
Army staff into an extremely har-
monious organization which func-
toned efficiently from the moment
of its activation," the citation said.
He demonstrated exceptional CO.
ordinating and executive ability in
meeting the innumerable problems
involved in the diverse missions ac-
complished by the 5th Army and
the 18th Army Group"
Maj. Gen. Walter X. Wilson, ex-
ecutive director of Army Emergency
Relief from January, 1914, to last
month. was awarded an Oak Leaf
Cluster to the Distinguished Service
Medal on Saturday.
He brought about close rela-
tionship between the Red Gross and
soldiers in dual capacity as liaison
officer, the citation said. Secretary
Patterson presented the award at
Pentagon ceremony.
Miss Helen Briggs, 80, of Wash
ington, a Red Cross field club di-
rector overseas for the past Is
months, recently was awarded the
Bronze Star Medal by Brig. Gen.
Pleas B. Rogers, Seine Section COM
mander, in ceremony at the Louvre
in Paaris, her mother here has
learned.
Mrs. Briggs, who lives at 1911
Spring road NV, said her daughter
was given the award in recognition
of her work with ranger" can
teen service in Paris. Arriving in
advance of the armed units, Miss
Briggs set up a Red Cross club and
had warm food and drinks for the
soldiers when they got into Paris.
Miss Briggs was last here in May,
1914, when she was on duty for a
time at Walter Reed Hospital.
Capt. Thomas w. Kerley, 1704
Lamont street NV, was decorated
with the Distinguished Flying Cross
for extraordinary achievement
against the enemy January IA, 1945,
when he successfully assumed COM
lmand OF flight Of B-29's when the
flight leader was forced to abandon
the mission because of mechanical
failure.
Boatswains Mate lie Charles
Henry Bohm, %, of the Coast
Guard, was awarded the Bronze
Star Medal for distinguishing him
self by heroism and meritorious
conduct as coxswain of con-
troll boat during the amphibious
assault against enemy held posi-
tions in Lingayen Gulf" His
mother, Mrs. Elsa Bohn Desmond,
lives at 213 East Bellefonte avenue,
Alexandria, Va. Mate Bohn led the