General Orders 1946 - Fort Benning

Flight Sergeant flrnest Paune, Rosa1 Air Boree. December 1913 to
October 1944.
Mar Weit, American civilian. Deccmber 1941 to Fcbrunry 1M2.
2. By direction of the President, under the provisions of Executive OrdPr 9419,
4 February 1944 (sce. 11, WD Bul. 3, 1944), a Bronze Star Medal far heroic
achievement in connection with military operations against an enemy of the
United States during the period indicated was awarded by the War Department
to the following-named enlisted man:
Private First Class Chorles R. Lannridrre - - arm^ serial No. 3W8001). Co~nuanv - -
G, 274th Infantry Regiment, Army of the Unitrd States, displayed heroic conduct
in action at Stirina Wendel, Fmnce. on 4 March 1945. During . a commmy - ~
attack, the supporting 5re of the machine gun section was halted, because of a
scarcity of ammunition, when he volunteered to secure a new supply. Private
Lanpidge crawled succr~sfully sel-cml hundred .yards within sight of the enemy
nuder intcnse mortar and artillery fire and returned courageously with ammunition
which enahled his section to resume its mission.
VILBATTLE HONORS.-As authorized by Executive Order 9396 (sec. I. WD
BuL 22, 19431, superceding Executive Order SO73 (see; 111, WD Bul. 11, 1942).
citation of the following unit in the general orders indicated is confirmed under
the prorisions of section IV, WD Cireulnr 333, 1943, in the name of the President
of the United States as public evidence of deserred honor and distinction. The
citatIon rends as fallaws:
The 3d Eatalion, 20th Izfnntry Regiment, is cited for outstrmdinp gallantry
and exrraordinary heroism in action against Lhe enemy at Xaffin Bas, Dutch
New Guinea, dnring the period 21 to 25 Jnne 1914. On 21 June 1914, the 3d Bottalion,
20th Infantry Rrginent, begun the attack to sceure Lane Tree Rill. The
objective was a precipitous hill cornposed entirely of coral rock, pitted with
numerous eaves offering natural defensive positions, corered with dense tropical
Jungle, and commanding friendly installations and communications in the Maffin
Bay area. After a short advance under withering rifi?, antomatic-weapons,
mortar, and artillery fire from the enemy's cleverly eoncealcd and well-prepared
positions, the battalion was halted and dug in for the night. Por the nexr 3 days,
the Sd Rnttnlbs, 20th Infnntry Regimext, launched reDcated nsuanlts in a srrphy-steg
ad~ance toward the crest of Lone Tree Hill, which could only bc reached
by climUing steep slopes and precipitous cliffs offering- little cover. The enems,
from his well-derelaped emplacements in eaves and crevices, defended to lhe
death and launched repented and savage counter-attacks, bath day and night.
At times, fierce hand-to-hand fighting occurretl in which thc men of the battalion
fought with bayonet and trench knives to hold thcir ground. Besupply of ammnnitlon,
water, rations, and plasma and evacuation were accomplished by
reinforced carrying parties, who fought their way through despite heary enemy
fire from nbow and from Bank positions ahich eonlpietely cavered the suggly
line. Despite the exhaustion of 3 days and nights of constant fighting, with
limited rations, water, and medical supplies, and in almost constant rain, 3 final
assault was made at dawn 24 June 1941, which wan Lone Trcc Hill and held
it against a last banzai attack that night. During the action, the 3d Eattalion,
20th Infantry Regimmt, lost 73 men killed and 181 wounded. Over 900 dead Japs
were counted in the area after the battle. The battalion, by its distinguished
performance of duty, captured a terrain ftmlure of great tactical importance and
overcame a fanatically determined and strongly entrenched enrrny. The gal-
AGO 3644B