General Orders 1946 - Fort Benning

in the aemmplishment of the objectives assigned to the 17th Airborne Division.
Landing in a drop zone completely covered by accurate fire from enemy artillery
emplacements, this parachute field artillery battalion, after gathering ammunition
and howitzer bundles off the fire-swept field, went Into action to fire their
flrst round within 30 minutes after getting to the ground. Alttmugh 1 battery
of this parachute field artillery battalion had lost all of its ofic~rs, the battallon's
fire control was established within 1% hours and firing in direct support of a
parachute infantry regiment, The I,G6th P,~.mchute Field Artillery Batlalion,
in addition to accomplisl1ina its assixned mission. succeeded in capturing. 320
Arfilleru Battalion, in the face of great odds and a defensively prepared enemy,
resulted in the provisions of adequate artillery support, vhlch assisted mate
riRlly in the ultimate success of the opcratiou and subsequent exploitation of
the gains achieved. (General Orders 552, Hcadquarters United States Army
ro'orces, European Theater, 28 December 1945.)
VI..MEDAL OF FREEDOM.-By direction of the President, under the provisions
of Executive Order 9586, 6 July 1045 (sec. 11, WD Uul. 12,1945), the Medal
of Freedom for meritoriolls service which has aided the United States in the.
prosecution of a war against an enemy during the period indicated was awarded
by the War Department to the following-named individual:
Consul Geueral Earn Woods, American civilian, rendered valuable services to
the United States Militaq attache, Berne, Switzerland, tllrough his untiring
efforts in cnrinc - for the . ~hvsiesl . necds of American aviators, who made forced or
crash landings in Switzcrland, from August 1943 to May 1945. By his constant
and solicitous Visits to the sick and wounded, he contributed mnterially to their
morale and comfort. By supplementing the work of the Military Attachf's O%Ce
duriug this trying period and giving flrst priority to these important tasli*,
Consul General Woods rendered patriotic services of unusual value to the Ameri-
can Array.
Bu onom os TEE SECXETAU~ OF WAB:
OFFICIAL
: DWIGHT D. DISENHOWER
EDWARD F. WITSELL Chief of star
Major General
Tlte Adjutant Generat