HEROISM IN FIELD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25458, 12 February 1944, Page 7

HEROISM IN FIELD

AMERICAN MARINE OFFICER JAPANESE OUTWITTED (P.A.) AUCKLAND, Feb. 11. The daring and ingenuity of a United States Marine officer during the fighting at Empress Augusta Bay in Bougainville Island were recalled yesterday when he was presented with the Navy Cross, one of America’s highest awards for heroism The decoration was conferred on Major Gordon Warner, of Long Beach, California, by Lieutenantcolonel L. W. Nickerson, commanding officer of the United States Marine Corps Supply Depot, Auckland, “ for extraordinary heroism while serving with a marine division operating at Cape Torokina, and in the Koromokina River area, Bougainville Island, on November 1 and November 7, 1943.”

Major Warner, who was formerly an instructor in athletics at Meiji University, Tokio, put to good use his knowledge of the Japanese language and customs to outwit the defenders of the last enemy stronghold in the Solomons. After landing, the citation says, Major Warner discovered Japanese in entrenchments. They were camouflaged so skilfully as to prevent detection, and were holding their fire to gain a surprise against the attackers. He challenged them in their own language, hurling insults that so enraged them that they revealed their position by firing. He then charged through the positions to the rear area, where he organised a combat team and led assaults against the enemy bunkers, each of which was occupied by 12 to 22 Japanese, who were killed or driven out.

In a later action Major Warner was severely wounded in the legs, one of which was so mangled that amputation was necessary. He was subsequently evacuated to Auckland, where he is now a patient in the United States Navy Hospital.