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Show Melvin Church Awarded Bronze Star Medal Melvin Ballard Church, seaman first class, United States naval reserve re-serve has been presented the Bronze Star Medal, with the following fol-lowing citation: "For heroic service in connection with operations against the enemy as a member of a reconnaisance platoon of an Underwater Demolition Demoli-tion Team engaged in obtaining information in-formation on enemy-held landing beaches and defenses during the amphibious assault and capture of Leyte, Philippine Islands, on 19 October, Oc-tober, 1944. Displaying outstanding skill and fearless devotion to duty in the face of intense machine-gun fire and rifle fire, he greatly aided his platoon in carrying out the hazardous reconaisance mission which contributed materially to the success of this amphibious operation. opera-tion. His coolness and courage during dur-ing this action were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service." J. L. Hall, Jr., Vice Admiral, U. S. Navy. |