3rd Bn., 143rd Inf.
Also Receives Two DSC's
And 21 Silver Stars

Following the presentation of the CMH to Lt. Gregg, Twenty three additional awards were presented to men of the 143rd Infantry by General Patch, in a field ceremony and review of the Third Battalion attended by himself and Maj. Gen. John E. Dahlquist.

2nd Lt. Lawrence L. Kuhn, Beaumont, Texas, was awarded the DSC, second. highest battle award, for leading an assault against hostile positions then making a reconnaissance against enemy positions across open terrain to bring back information vital to the securing of these positions.

A Distinguished Service Cross was awarded to S/Sgt. Hector Kilrea, famed Detroit and Toronto hockey player, for his extraordinary heroism in action with Company K.

An Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a second Silver Star was presented to 1st Lt. Elmer S. Ward, Ivanhoe, Texas.

For gallantry in action, Silver Star medals were awarded to Major James C. Gentle, Elkins Park, Pa.; 1st Lt. James W. Bridges, Little Rock, Ark. ; 1st Lt. Samuel D. Florence, Rockwell, Texas ; 1st Lt. Stanley M. Michalak, Dearborn, Mich.; 2nd Lt. Fred Costilia, Beaumont, Texas; 2nd Lt. Mervin Cross, Caldwell, Texas ; S/Sgt. Fred H. Bancalari, Oakland, Ctrl. ; S/Sgt. Frank J. Belluscio, Newark, N.J.; S/Sgt. Kenneth V. Cendella, Berkley, Cal. ; S/Sgt. Luther K. Moore, Crutchfield, Ky. ; S/Sgt. Walter Ridenhour, Richfield, N.C.; and S/Sgt. Orval V. Wilmot, Cresswell, Oregon.
Medico Pfc. Rheual Bailey, Van Buren, Ark., and James D. Blondet, Washington, D.C. were also decorated with the Silver Star by General Patch, as well as Pfc’s Orville A. Amundson, Bemidji, Minn.; Frank F. Cappola, Gary, Ind. ; Anthony J. Ciotola, Brooklyn; Robert Hunter, St. Joseph, Mo. ; Clyde Martin, La Moille, Ill. ; and Lloyd Welsh, Gastonia, N.C.

Following the presentations, General Dahlquist spoke to the decorated men, expressing his pride in their achievements, and the priviledge it was to have such men in the Division.