HIGH DECORATION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 May 1944, Page 4

HIGH DECORATION

WON BY AMERICAN SOLDIER man who left his own unit TO JOIN AUSTRALIANS ON FIGHTING FRONT (Special Australian Correspondent) (Received This Day, 9.20 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. A United States soldier, tiring _of building camps, absented himself without leave from his unit and attached himself to an Australian division and won distinction by killing six Japanese on the Huon Peninsula, in New Guinea. Sent back to his own unit, he rejoined them the day after they landed in Dutch New Guinea. He killed fourteen 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, of 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, 194.1, McGee obtained a lift on a transport plane from a 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 had sailed for Hollandia. He followed and won the prized gallantry award, the Silver Star, when, “without regard to his 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.