Absent Without Leave, Won Gallantry Award

Northern Advocate, 22 May 1944, Page 2

Absent Without Leave, Won Gallantry Award

(Special) SYDNEY, This Day A United States soldier, tiring of building camps, absented himself without leave from his unit, attached himself to an Australian division and won distinction by killing six Japanese on Huon Peninsula, New Guinea. Sent back to his own unit, he rejoined them the day after they landed in Dutch New Guinea. He killed 14 more Japanese in circumstances which won for him the Silver Star, one of the highest United States Army decorations. The soldier was Private Monroe McGee, aged 28. from Mississippi. After being for two years a member of the United States 24th Division which had seen no action other than the Japanese raid on Pearl Harbour on December 7, 1941, McGee obtained a lift on a transport plane from the Pacific island where his division was stationed, and joined -the Australians then in action on the northern New Guinea coast.

’When it was discovered that he was absent without leave from the American Army, the Australian Divisional Commander sent him back under escort, with the suggestion that he be leniently dealt with because of his gallant fighting record. McGee returned to his island base the day after his unit sailed for Hollandia. He followed and “won the prized gallantry award of the SilverStar. when “without regard to personal safety, he exposed himself to enemy fire to cover the withdrawal and evacuation of wounded.” He killed several Japanese and was himself one of the last to withdraw.