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Show Washington, D. C. INSIDE' HERO STORY Behind the award of the Congressional Congres-sional Medal of Honor to 31-year-old Lieut. Com. Bruce McCandless of the U. S. Cruiser San Francisco is a story almost without parallel in the annals of naval warfare. Inside fact is that shortly before he was cited for heroism "above and beyond the call of duty." in the (mashing November 13 Solomons naval victory, McCandless wasn't sure whether he would be decorated or hauled on the carpet for insubordination. insubor-dination. His citation was one of glittering generalities, but here Is the whole story of what happened: McCandless was on the bridge of the San Francisco when it led a spectacular assault between two columns col-umns of Jap vessels, firing point-blank point-blank at both. In the roaring 35-minute 35-minute engagement, Rear Admiral Daniel J. Callaghan, commander of the task force, and Capt. Cassin Young, skipper of the San Francisco, were killed, as well as other officers outranking McCandless. The young lieutenant commander did not notify superior officers on other vessels In the task force of Callahan's death, but immediately took command and began giving orders or-ders to the other vessels In Cal-laghan's Cal-laghan's name. Ordinarily, this would constitute a rank breach of discipline. However, McCandless acted as he did for two reasons: (1) He was thoroughly familiar with the plan of attack, having been present at strategy powwows of Callaghan and Young when it was mapped out, and he feared there might be a slipup in carrying out the daring task maneuver if the command passed to another ship after Callaghan's death. 2) It was vital to keep the news of Callaghan's death from the Japs, and they undoubtedly would have intercepted the radio communication. After the engagement, when a friend suggested that he might be decorated for his brilliant "incognito" "incog-nito" leadership, McCandless Is quot-ed quot-ed as replying that he would be lucky to get off without a "court martial." However, the navy was only too glad to give praise where praise was due. a. a MARCHING INTOTOKYO" Mel Maas of Minnesota, who is both marine corps colonel and congressman, con-gressman, has two mementos from , the Solomons a 50-yen Jap note and a 10-shilling note of Jap invasion money. Maas got the money off dead Jap soldiers. The other day he was displaying it to Representative Gordon Canfield of New Jersey and two British WRENS, comparable to our WAVES, who were having lunch with Can-field Can-field in the house restaurant. The WRENS, Third Officers Dorothy Taite and Elizabeth Gibson, were especially interested in the yen note, which was covered with bright-colored bright-colored designs and pictures. "Be sure to give that money back to me," said Maas. "I have big plans for it." "Yes, these notes will make a wonderful souvenir to show your grandchildren," commented one of the WRENS. "Souvenir nothing," exclaimed Mass. "I'm keeping that money to spend in Tokyo." a a GUARDING THE WHITE HOUSE The White House called Speaker Sam Rayburn the other day, asked him to come in to see the President, bringing with him a group of congressmen con-gressmen of his own choosing. When they arrived at the front gate of the White House, in the speaker's car, the chauffeur said to the Secret Service men: "This is the speaker and members of congress." con-gress." The guards were skeptical. ''The speaker is all right, but how about these other men?" Whereupon they insisted upon a personal examination examina-tion of the other members of congress. When Rayburn got inside the White House, he was as mad as that good-natured good-natured Texan ever becomes. He found a senior officer of Secret Service Serv-ice and said: "Look here, when I am asked to bring members of congress con-gress to the White House, I want them to be admitted without any third degree examination. You ought to know I wouldn't bring any bomb throwers 1" Note: The White House has been more closely guarded in this war than at any other time in history; including World War I. Streets on three sides are blocked off, and no one can get near without a pass, even a member of congress. a a MERRY-GO-ROUND C The Germans are trying to scare Franco out of making a commercial deal to sell .us certain critical materials ma-terials which have been going to Germany. C. practically every young officer in the navy department here is asking for active duty, and many are getting get-ting it Waves of WAVES are replacing re-placing them. H The Pennsylvania Quaker village of Swarthmore is subscribing for a bomber to bear the name "Swarthmore." |