Smyrna times., 1963-11-14
Base Airnen
Get Awards
fContirued from Page one)

vember %, 1862 to April 2I,
1868. The citation accompany
ing the medal read In part,
a.. During this period, the air.
manship and courage demon
strated by Airman Sneed in the
successful accomplishment of
combat support missions, un-
der extremely hazardous con-
ditions, including continuous
harassment by unfriendly for
ces, demonstrated his outstand-
ing proficiency and steadfast
devotion to duty"
Sergeants Bossa, Bennett and
Kiser we're presented the Pur-
pie Heart for United Nations
operations in the Congo. On
Aug. 27, 1860, a C-l24 from
the l607th Air Transport Wing
landed at Stanleyville, Repub-
lie of the Congo, in support
of UN operations.
Prior to landing, the crew
had been warned that a crowd
had gathered at the field and
anything could be expected. The
landing was uneventful and the
aircraft commander and naH-
gator filed a flight plan for the
next stop.
After the aircraft was loaded,
a few Congolese soldiers ask
ed the crew for permission to
look around the airplane. Per-
mission was granted. A short
while later the soldiers order
ed the crew off the aircraft
at gun point.
Outside, the crowd, already
restless from three hour wait
for Patrice Lumumba, then head
of Katanga Province, pounced
on the defenseless men, kick
ing and beating them with rifle
butts and sticks.
After the beating, part of the
crew was taken to a prison
compound at gun point. They
we're later released. All mem
bers of the crew we're hospi-
talized and upon return to the
United States we're awarded the
Air Force Commentator Med
al.
AS a result of wounds inflict-
ed during the Congo incident
with hostile foreign forces,
three of the crew members re-
ceived the Purple Heart this
morning.
Captain Pawlak earned the
Commentator Medal for SER
vice as a copilot In the 530th
Bombardment Squadron, Plat
tsburgh AFB, NY, from Sept.
g, 1859 until May /, 1868. Dur
ing this time he became ex-
ceptionally proficient in the
scope of his duties relating to
electronic countermeasures
equipment operation. -vsr.
Sergeant Males distinguish !
ed himself by "...meritorious
service as Language and Voice
Intercept Processing Superin-
tendent, Headquarters United
States Forces, Azores from
Oct. IA, 1887 until May 27, |
1862. During this period,
through a fluent command of
Portuguese language and a COM
prehensive knowledge of proto-
col and administrative proceed
ures, rendered inestimable as
siStance to his command on
matters dealing with local Port
uguese military and civilian
people. T"
Sergeant Krze sniak distin-
guished himself as first ser
great of the I607th Organiza-
tional Maintenance Squadron. In
the citation accompanying his
medal. His sustained super
ior performance. professional
competence, coupled with his
unusual ability of understand
ing and insight of human re-
lations is directly attributable
to the high morale enjoyed by
the l607th OMS.
Sergeant Dyes Commenda-
tion Medal was earned by him
as Chief clerk, Special Actions
Division, Directorate of Air
man Personnel, of the Alaskan
Air Command at Elmendorf
AFB, Alaska. The citation read
in part, "...He exhibited an out
standing ability and willingness
to seek out and independent
ly analyze and resolve admin
istrative problems within the
Special Actions Division. He
utilized his superior technical
knowledge and abilities to the
utmost in assisting all ranks and
levels of command with espec-
tally complex administrative
problems"