Major Individual Awards

MAJOR INDIVIDUAL AWARDS [Compiled by Harry D. Gobrecht, Historian, 303rd BG(H) Association]
This record of individual awards is known to be incomplete.
Please advise us if you have information of other award recipients.

MEDAL
of
HONOR

(Conspicuous gallantry & intrepidity above and beyond
the call to duty in action against the enemy)

1stLt Jack W. Mathis Bombardier 359BS 18 Mar 43 (Posthumous)
T/Sgt Forrest L. Vosler Radio Operator 358BS 20 Dec 43

DISTINGUISHED
SERVICE CROSS

(Extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations
against an armed enemy of the United States)

2ndLt Charles W. Spencer Bombardier 358BS 26 Nov 43
S/Sgt William J. Werner Tail Gunner 427BS 22 Feb 43
2ndLt Thomas J. Dello Buono Bombardier 360BS 13 Apr 44
LtCol Lewis E. Lyle Pilot/Sq.CO. 360BS Sep 44(1)
(1) Outstanding heroism and leadership during period 17 Nov 42 to 15 June 43

SILVER STAR
MEDAL

Group and Squadron Commanding Officers
(For Courage, Skill and Leadership)

Col James H. Wallace Group C.O. 303BG 26 Mar 43
Col Charles E. Marion Group C.O. 303BG 26 Mar 43
Major Eugene R. Romig Squadron C.O. 359BS 06 Mar 43
Major Glenn E. Hagenbuch Squadron C.O. 427BS 13 May 43
Major Clemens K. Wurzbach Squadron C.O. 358BS 05 Apr 43
Major Kirk R. Mitchell Squadron C.O. 358BS 05 Apr 43
Major Lewis E. Lyle Squadron C.O. 360BS 05 Apr 43
Major William R. Calhoun Squadron C.O. 359BS 22 Jun 43
Col Kermit D. Stevens Group C.O. 303BG 16 Aug 43
LtCol Clemens K. Wurzbach Squadron C.O. 358BS 26 Sep 43 (OLC)
Major Eugene A. Romig Squadron C.O. 359BS 26 Sep 43 (OLC)
Major William R. Calhoun Squadron C.O. 359BS 26 Sep 43 (OLC)
Major Glenn E. Hagenbuch Squadron C.O. 427BS 26 Sep 43 (OLC)
Major Kirk R. Mitchell Squadron C.O. 358BS 26 Sep 43 (OLC)
Combat Crewmen
(Gallantry in action, courage, skill and
devotion to duty against the enemy)

Capt Donald E. Stockton Pilot 427BS 17 May 43
1stLt Milton S. Fonorow Bombardier 360BS 22 Jun 43
1stLt James Ford Kelley Navigator 360BS 25 Jun 43
T/Sgt James A. Watson Engineer/T-Turret 360BS 25 Jun 43
S/Sgt Joseph S. Klasnick Left Waist Gunner 360BS 25 Jun 43
S/Sgt Charles M Bacon Tail Gunner 360BS 17 Aug 43
S/Sgt Dante G. Barron Waist Gunner 427BS 17 Aug 43
Sgt George W. Buske Tail Gunner 358BS 19 Aug 43
2Lt Charles J. McClain Bombardier 359BS 26 Nov 43
Capt Joseph M. Strickland Navigator 359BS Nov 1943
S/Sgt Grover C. Mullins Engineer/T-Turret 358BS 26 Nov 43
S/Sgt Joseph E. Robichaud Left Waist Gunner 359BS 26 Nov 43
Capt Carl J. Fyler Pilot 360BS 29 Nov 1943 (Awarded 26 Nov 2002)
S/Sgt William E. Rein Tail Gunner 360BS 29 Nov 43
Capt Edward M. Woddrop Pilot 427BS 20 Dec 43
2ndLt Homer E. Raker CoPilot 359BS 29 Apr 44 (Posthumous)
1stLt Anthony J. Cecchini Pilot 360BS 11 May 44
Capt John A. Long Pilot 360BS 11 May 44 (Posthumous)
LtCol Lewis E. Lyle Deputy Group CO 303BG 29 May 44 (OLC)
LtCol Lewis E. Lyle Deputy Group CO 303BG 21 Jun 44 (OLC #2)
2ndLt Frederic T. Kiesel Bombardier 358BS 09 Sep 44
F/O Seymour Kaufman Navigator 358BS 11 Oct 44
F/O Clarence L. Counsell Bombardier 359BS 05 Nov 44
Capt Richard F. Healy Pilot 427BS 26 Nov 44

LEGION
of
MERIT

(Exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance
of outstanding services to the United States)

M/Sgt Fabian S. Folmer Crew Chief 358BS 06 Dec 43
M/Sgt Carino Colancecco Crew Chief 358BS 30 Dec 43
M/Sgt Everett W. Emery Crew Chief 358BS 30 Dec 43
M/Sgt William C. Woodman Crew Chief 358BS 30 Dec 43
M/Sgt Burford G. Pafford Crew Chief 359BS
S/Sgt Antoni Bednarchuk Aerial Gunner 427BS 03 Apr 43
T/Sgt Kenneth Joseph Kurtenbach 360BS - for "meritorious conduct while providing outstanding service" as a POW Camp leader - May 1946
2Lt Ewell R. McCright 427BS - As a POW he filled four ledgers with the backgrounds and war injuries of 2,194 soldiers. Awarded posthumously to his sister in October 2004.

DISTINGUISHED
FLYING CROSS

(Heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight)
Awarded for completion of a combat tour of 25 missions prior to D-Day and
thereafter upon recommendation and approval for those displaying great courage,
skill and devotion to duty on specific or series of combat missions.

SOLDIER'S
MEDAL

(Heroism that involves the voluntary risk of life, other
than those of conflict with an armed enemy)

M/Sgt Harold V. Keahey Ground personnel 358BS 01 May 43
S/Sgt Kenneth Shanaham Transport Driver 359BS 06 Sep 43
Sgt Clyde V. Engholm Ground personnel 359BS 06 Sep 43
S/Sgt Anthony Kray Radio maintenance 358BS
S/Sgt Roger P. Carocari Radio repairman 359BS
Cpl Russell P. Shuppe Aircraft mechanic 427BS 17 Jun 44
Cpl Richard Lund Aircraft mechanic 427BS 17 Jun 44
Sgt William R. Kaufman Waist Gunner 358BS 14 Dec 44
T/Sgt Lewis A. Maresh Aircraft mechanic 444SD
Sgt Orvel O. Burnett Aircraft mechanic 444SD
S/Sgt J.A. Blinebury Waist Gunner 358BS 15 Feb 45
1Lt Heber D. Hansen Navigator 358BS 15 Feb 45

BRONZE STAR
MEDAL

(Heroic or meritorious achievement or service, not involving aerial
flights, in connection with operations against an armed enemy.)

303BG Headquarters

1Lt Carlton M. Smith
M/Sgt Gerson I. Nadell
Major Quentin W. Hargrove
Captain Merritt O. Slawson (Protestant Chaplain)
Captain Edmund J. Skoner (Catholic Chaplain)

358th BS

M/Sgt G.W. Hamm [C]
T/Sgt T.K. Harrelson [C]
T/Sgt H.V. Keahey [C]
M/Sgt J.H. Simpson [C]
T/Sgt F.I. Fink
M/Sgt D.W. Hartmann
T/Sgt D.J. Schwarzenbach
S/Sgt L.E. Schultz
M/Sgt W.R. Weaver [C]
S/Sgt C.B. Wilson
Major C.E. Johnson
Capt J.B. Robinson
1Lt B.D. Hight, Jr
S/Sgt T.A. Henn

359th BS

T/Sgt Joseph B. Strange [C]
M/Sgt T. Westmorland [C]
1st Sgt Gerson I. Nadell
2Lt Thomas E. Mulligan *
Capt William E. Eisenhart **

360th BS

M/Sgt M. Abraham [C]
M/Sgt N. Bossie [C]
M/Sgt A.J. Bourque [C]
M/Sgt Robert B. Heiliger [C]
M/Sgt W.C. Melton [C]
M/Sgt Willis G. Meyer [C]
LtCol Lewis E. Lyle

427th BS

M/Sgt L.W. Drew [C]
T/Sgt G.E. Hoeft [C]
M/Sgt J.L. Kalivoda [C]
M/Sgt M.L. Lloyd [C]
T/Sgt R.A. Ludeman [C]
M/Sgt W.N. Moore, Jr. [C]
M/Sgt J.B. Warnecke [C]
M/Sgt S.E. Larsen [C]
S/Sgt D.S. Niens

444th SD

Major Melvin T. McCoy
Major W.I. Nieman

[C] Crew Chiefs
* 2Lt Mulligan earned his Bronze Star for his leadership and escape planning efforts while a POW at Stalag Luft III
** Capt Eisenhart earned his Bronze Star while leading a Christmas 1972 B-52 raid over Hanoi.

PURPLE
HEART

(To all persons wounded in combat actions. To next-of-kin of all
persons killed in action or who died of wounds received in action)

POW
MEDAL

(Authorized on 8 November 1945 for any person who, while serving in any capacity with the U.S. Armed Forces, was taken prisoner and held captive after 5 April 1917. The POW medal is issued only to those U.S. military personnel and other personnel granted credible U.S. Military service who were taken prisoner and held captive: (1) While engaged in action against and enemy of the United States. (2) While engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force. (3) While serving with friendly forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.)

To obtain the POW medal those who were POW, or their next of kin, should make a request for the POW medal using a personal letter or DD form 2510 (prisoner of War Medal Application/information). Applications should be submitted to the Commander, ARPERCEN, Attn: DARP-VSA-A, 9700 Page Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63132-5200.

AIR
MEDAL

(Exceptionally meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight or Sustained distinction in the performance of duties involved in regular or frequent participation in aerial flight.) Generally awarded to all combat crewmen after five credited combat missions. An Oak Leaf cluster awarded after each subsequent five combat missions. Prior to D-Day, the Air Medal plus 3 Oak Leaf Clusters were awarded for the first 20 missions. The Distinguished Flying Cross was awarded at the completion of the required 25 or 30 missions.

BRITISH
DISTINGUISHED
FLYING CROSS

Col James H. Wallace (303BG CO) 26 Mar 1943
Col Kermit D. Stevens (303BG CO) 17 Aug 1943
LtCol Lewis E. Lyle (303BG CO) 6 May 1945
Col Charles E. Marion (303BG CO) 26 Mar 1943
Capt George V. Stallings (360BS Pilot) 25 Jun 1943
Capt George J. Oxrider (358BS Pilot) 23 Jan 1943

FRENCH
CROIX de GUERRE

(Awards made by the French Government for "Exceptional military acts rendered in the course of operations in the liberation of France")

Col Kermit D. Stevens (303BG CO) 13 Mar 1946
Col Lewis E. Lyle (303BG CO / 379BG CO) April 1945
Major William C. Heller (360BS)
Major Robert W. Sheets (427BS)
LtCol Edgar E. Snyder (303BG)
LtCol Frank J. Doherty (303BG)
LtCol Walter K. Shayler (360BS)
1stLt William D. Cargill (359BS)
Col Eugene A. Romig (359BS/303BG/42CBW/351BG)
Col William S. Raper (306BG/303BG)
LtCol William C. Sipes (379BG/41CBW/303BG)
LtCol George T. Mackin (358BS)
LtCol William R. Calhoun, Jr. (359BS/41CBW)
LtCol Richard H. Cole (359BS/303BG)
Major James E. McCormick (427BS/Hdqs)

FRENCH
CROIX du COMBATTANT
(Combatant's Cross)

(Awards made by the French Government for "Exceptional military acts rendered in the course of operations in the liberation of France")

T/Sgt Conrad J. Kersch (427BS)
Became a member of the French Resistance (F.F.I.) after being shot down on 26 March 1944

FRENCH
CROIX Du COMBATTANT
VOLONTAIRE RESISTANCE
(Resistance Volunteer Combatant's Cross)

Created on 15 April 1954 for any person recognized as a voluntary combatant in the French resistance.

T/Sgt Conrad J. Kersch (427BS)

FRENCH
La MEDAILLE COMMEMORATIVE
FRANCAISE DE LA GUERRE
(French Commemorative Medal of the War)
(1939 -1945)

Standard French Medal for military service during the Second World War

T/Sgt Conrad J. Kersch (427BS)