Evening star., 1945-03-14
Col. John N. Kemper
Gets Legion Of Merit
For Historical Work

Col. John M. Kemper, 80, of 3lO5
Thirty-third place NV, has been
awarded the Legion of Merit for his
services from July 10, 1943, to Feb
ruary IL, l945, as chief of the his
torical branch of the Army Military
Intelligence Division. Col. Kemper
recently left for overseas duty.
He was instrumental in the Gre
alton and development of a central
agency within the War Department
responsible for the formulation of
basic War Department historical
policies =" the citation said. LAS
result of his rare foresight. imagi-
nation, sound Judgment and untir-
ing efforts, solid basis was estab-
lished for writing and history of
the present war;
A native of Wyoming, Col KEN
per was graduated from West Point
in 1885. He was stationed here
from June, 1943. until he left for
overseas duty several weeks ago.
Col. Kemper's wife, Mrs. Sylvia
Kemper, and their two daughters,
Cecily, 6, and Lucy, 4, live at the
Thirty-third place address.
Maj. Fred S. Poorman, 43, acting
chief of the military construction
branch in the office of the chief en-
gineer at the War Department. was
presented the Legion of Merit yes
terday for developing revolution
ary gunnery training range.
Combat experience gained up to
the fall of 1943 had made it ex-
tremely desirable to change radi-
cally and improve flexible gunnery
technique and instruction, the cita-
tion explains.
Suitable facilities for proper
training appeared impracticable OF
attainment until he conceived
and, through his untiring efforts
'++ ability and careful supervision,
designed, built and perfected an
entirely revolutionary range which
permits reproducing the essential
features of flexible gunnery aerial
combat problems under conditions
which permit positive instruction,
the citation states.
Maj. Poorman was commissioned
In December, 1912, and has been
stationed here since. Before he was
commissioned he was civil service
employe engaged in the type of work
he is now doing Maj. Poorman
was the assistant chief engineer on
the Pennsylvania turnpike. A ma
tive of Ohio Maj. Poorman and his
wife live at 2407 Fifteenth street.
Marine 1t. Col. Austin r. Brunelli,
ST. of 6124 Thirty-second street NV,
was awarded the Silver Star Medal |
en- route to Two Jima for voluntarily l
leading an assault battalion and |
making personal reconnaissance un-
der fire during the battle for Saipan. |
The citation said that Col. Bru- |
nelli, although serving as regimental
executive officer on Saipan. took /
command of an infantry battalion
when it lost its leader in an ar
tillery barrage. He was frequently |
in the front lines encouraging his |
men and directing their efforts.
When two of his companions were |
forced to withdraw short distance |
from the assigned objective, Col. |
Brunelli made a personal recon-
naissance under fire and skillfully |
established his lines to assure sue
cess of the days operations, the
citation states.
A week later his battalion was or
dered to fill dangerous gap be-
tween two units Col. Brunelli again |
made a reconnaissance under fire,
enabling his battalion to move into
a position and accomplish its mis-
sion.
Col. Brunelli also wears the Legion |
Of Merit for his services as a bat
talon commander during the battle |
for Namur in the Marshalls and the |
Purple Heart for wounds also re-
ceived at Namur. \