U.S. LEGION OF MERIT

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27670, 28 May 1955, Page 3

U.S. LEGION OF MERIT

AWARD TO AUSTRALIAN NAVAL OFFICER

An offeer in H.M.A.S Sydney, the light fleet aircraft-carrier now at Lyttelton, is to be invested with the United States Legion of Merit when the ship returns to Australia next Friday. He is Commander A. N. Dollard, D.S.C., who is the aircraft carrier’s executive officer.

The decoration is for Commander Dollard’s part in the Korean War when he was a lieutenant-commander in command of the British frigate, H.M.S. Murchison. The investiture will be made by the United States Naval Attache (Captain R. A. McPherson). Commander Dollard’s frigate was patrolling the channels of the Han river on September 28, 1951, when Communist batteries opened fire from one of the banks. The ship, which at J?^ stage the attack was more than 300 yards from the bank, was a sitting target but suffered only minor damage and a few casualties, one man being seriously wounded. For allied forces commanders, including Rear-Admiral G. Dyer, of the United States Navy, who were in the ship at the time, it was an uncomfortable experience. Two days later the Murchison was attacked again. She received a number of direct hits but few casualties. After that patrolling in the area was limited and when it did take place it was with the protective cover of fighters. Commander Dollard, who is 38, graduated from Flinders Naval College in 1936. touring World War II he served in the cruiser Sydney in the Mediterranean and in the cruiser Australia and the destroyer Warramunga in the Pacific. His home town is Sydney. He joined H.M-A.S. Sydney fast Anzac Day. He is married with a family of two children.