Show Troops Salute Major Maior Former Grid Luminary By Robert V. V Vermillion Vermilion A AIR I R SERVICE COMMAND HEADQUARTERS Somewhere in Italy Oct 25 UP Major UP-Major Major Edmund Ed Ed- mund A. A Cobb former Cornell university university uni uni- football Etar star today held a citation that probably is unique in I this or any other war war war-a a public commendation delivered b by the enlisted enlisted en- en listed isted men of his command on the Italian battlefield Cobb was routed from his bed at it dawn da on October 4 and hurried to o a near near-by olive gr grove ve where the men nen of his service unit reversed the he usual procedure by commending commending commend- commend ing ng their commander for his gallantry gal gal- lantry antry and leadership in the battle of f the Salerno beaches I More than han quarter one-quarter of Cobbs Cobb's command was lost in the battle during which it spent seven days under continuous enemy artillery and md aerial bombardment establishing establishing lishing shing a supply base for allied air- air craft raft His Commendation was written by the enlisted y men with the approval approval ap- ap roval of his junior officers and read ead at the surprise dawn assembly assem- assem bly ly by Captain Robert A. A Pearce Columbia S. S C. C To whom it may concern the citation tation read We the enlisted personnel of an n advance echelon stationed in Italy aly wish to commend Major Edmund dmund A. A Cobb for the great I qualities of leadership which he I displayed as commanding officer of our detachment I Throughout the present campaign campaign cam cam- Major Cobb never failed to inspire confidence in all ll personnel person person- nd nel under his command At one one time during the critical period Jn hi establishing the Salerno beachhead when we were called upon tov tOI strengthen the second de de- de Major Cobb delivered deli v- v red ered e these inspiring words Remember men if we are called upon to fight I want you to know Ill I'll be right in front of you From that moment the confidence confidence con con- of all these men was Cemented cemented ce ce- to Major Cobb and we f feel el 1 these words gave us the courage and strength to pull through al almost almost ale al- most certain disaster In the operating and enlisted personnel of this command Major Major Ma Ma- jor Cobb is held in the highest esteem When Pearce finished reading the citation Cobb stood silently for a few seconds saluted his command command com corn mand and walked back to his quarters quarters without a word I couldn't speak he explained later That was the finest thing that ever happened to any man manThe manThe manThe The following day Cobb thanked his men and told them he had recommended recommended rec rec- 24 t of them for valor awards including Raymond J. J Meyer yer Minneapolis Minn |