Show OUR w wk MEN S IN note noie the following letters were received by mrs milford wildman arm her soldier sons orie one of whom has seen mush much front line action in germany as indicated in a newspaper clipping she also received about the activities of his group in recent operations germany dec 17 dear mother will try to answer your letter received last night also got one cne from richard I 1 got the christmas package no there anything spoiled those peanuts sure hit the spot yes you heard the truth over the radio only the mud basmore was more than knee deep but with winter coming the ground is frozen and it so muddy now some people dont know when they are well off they should see the way these people live or the way the doughboys dough boys have to do they would probably feel pretty cheap I 1 get all your letters but some out of line three days ago I 1 got one dated dec 1 and last night I 1 received one written nov 10 when you write again send me an envelope and a piece of paper send one every time if I 1 get too many they get etzet wet and muddy and I 1 cant use them love leo wildman somewhere in the philippines dear mother and dad just a few lines to let you know I 1 am well and hope you are the same I 1 am getting along fine and have plenty to eat had a good christmas dinner aboa aboard rd ship I 1 had a swell trip the Philip philippines pinos are sure glad that we are here and most of them are swell people theres not much I 1 can write about so will close wishing you lots of luck love richard wildman editors note your attention is called to the following story which accompanied the recommendation men dation for recognition and the promotion of the men mentioned in the opening paragraph A W adair is the son of mrs gladys mauk she tells us that in addition to this account of their experiences perien ces she has received the citation papers sent to her by vice admiral hoover it goes without saying that mrs mauk is pleased and proud of her son service force pacific fleet grovac six 11 october 1944 from port director to commanding officer gro pac six subject award recommendation for 1 the following men W F wilson cox A W ADAIR and land R J rowell sic were the crew for the assigned to the port director for use by the harbor master thus the reason for the port directors office making this recommendation rather than the boat pool baker the unit to which these men are actually attached 2 throughout the recent storm in tinian finian harbor from oct 2 to oct 7 1944 these three men showed exemplary devotion to duty duly superior skill in handling their boat and a high degree of loyalty 3 during the storm they remained with their boat day and night performing whatever task assigned them they asked for no relief ellef nor did they once complain of the hardships endured i e missing meals standing watches day and night regardless of the weather being soaked most of cf the time without a change of dry clothes 4 these men kept their boat in operable condition by making their own repairs they never once thought of beaching their boat to escape the storm although they did have sufficient reason to do so it was not until after the boat took a terrific beating one day that the seams cracked and by night was shipping too much water for the bilge pumps to handle and they had to beach the boat these men did not give up hope of keeping their boat afloat until it sank to such depth that water was coming over the stern sheet 5 after after the first day of the storm theirs was one of the only two boats left that were in operation consequently they wele called upon day and night to carry water rations and extra line to the other small boats tow boats broken broke loose from moorings bringing sick personnel ashore etc the courage and cheerfulness they showed in performing these tasks served as an inspiration to the other men on the various boats anchored in the harbor 6 the morning of oct 5 a picket boat attempting to enter the harbor capsized in the heavy surf and its crew of four men were thrown into the water this crew realized the situation and without awaiting orders and at total disregard for their own personal safety entered the high swells and effected rescue of the picket boat crew 7 it is recommended that these men each be given special recognition for Ms his actions and notation j of same be made on his service record it is also recommended that each be automatically promoted to the next higher rate i M C laff laffie ie 1 lieu liet e i |