U.S. SOLDIERS HEROISM

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24571, 21 May 1945, Page 6

U.S. SOLDIERS HEROISM

AWARD OF M.M. RESCUE OF R.N.Z.A.F. PILOT <P.A.) WELLINGTON, May 19. The Qoyernor-General (Sir Cyril Kewall) has been advised that the King has approved of the immediate award of the Military Medal to Technician (Fifth Grade) Frank John Gudeyro, United States .rmy. The medal will be presented to-day in the field at Luzon by the senior British officer attached to General MacArtfaur’s headquarters in 4he Philippines (Lieuten-ant-General C. H. Gardner). This is the first British operational' award conferred upon a United States serviceman. tThfe; outstanding courage of Technicftm Gudeyro was responsible for saying 'the life of a pilot of the K.N.Z.AJF, whose aircraft was burning, furiously after a crash at Bougainville on August 18,1944. » : Arriving on the scene a few minutes after- the crash. Technician Gudeyro, 'with disregard for his own safety, ran to the aircraft, where the pilot was trapped with a broken back and grave head injuries. The navigator was on the ground near the aircraft, severely injured, and Technician Gudeyro. promptly dragged him clear He then climbed Into the aircraft and attempted to pull out the pilot, in spite of the fierce blaze. Although partially overcome by the smoke and heat and by the flames which singed his face and hair, Technician Gudeyro persisted In his endeavours, and got th& pilot partly out the side window He was then assisted by another American soldier, and they jointly completed the rescue