APPENDIX I

 

COAST GUARDSMEN DECORATED - NORTH AFRICAN AREA

 

NAME AND ADDRESS AWARD EXTRACT FROM CITATION
 
ARKANSAS  
MEEKER, Rex G.
Fireman, 1c, USCG
Route 1, Bono
Navy & Marine Corps Medal For heroic conduct as engineer of a tank lighter during the assault on and occupation of French Morocco from November 8 to 11, 1942. When the boat in which he was stationed swamped in high surf, Meeker without hesitation took off his own life belt and placed it around an exhausted shipmate who was in danger of drowning and brought him safely to shore.
 
MASSACHUSETTS  
DURGIN, Willard L.
Mo.M.M. 1c, USCGR
North Bluffs, Oak Bluffs
Legion of Merit For exceptionally meritorious conduct as engineer of a landing boat from a United States transport during the assault on and occupation of French Morocco, November 8-11, 1942. Under extremely hazardous conditions he heroically remained at his post in a stranded boat for two and one-half days, keeping the craft bailed out and free from sand, despite gruelling hardships and exposure to hostile bombing and strafing. Through his tireless efforts and dauntless courage, Durgin enabled our forces to salvage the boat for further service in transporting troops and supplies to the beaches at a time when boats were urgently needed for vital landing operations.

--159--


     
NEW JERSEY  
CLARK, Paul Leaman
Fireman, lc, USCG
45 Stillman Avenue
Jersey City
Navy Cross For extraordinary heroism while serving as engineer of a landing boat attached to the USS JOSEPH T. DICKMAN during the assault on and occupation of French Morocco from November 8 to 11, 1942. When a hostile plane strafed his boat with machine gun fire, mortally wounding the bowman and severely injuring the coxswain, Clark with quick initiative immediately withdrew from the beach. Speeding toward the USS PALMER, he placed the wounded men aboard and, although his craft was riddled by enemy bullets, courageously returned to his station at the beach.
 
GOLENIECKI, John V.
P.M. lc, USCG
611 Pine Street
Trenton
Legion of Merit For exceptionally meritorious conduct while attached to a U. S. transport during the assault on and occupation of French Morocco, November 8-11, 1942. When the members of his support boat, landing northeast of Fedala, were attacked by hostile planes and ground forces, being cut off from the other landing groups, Goleniecki volunteered to man a rubber boat in order to contact our forces and obtain assistance. With the aid of a shipmate, he effected a daring escape, and reaching his objective, furnished the Attack Force Commander with the first information of the beleaguered group.

--160--


     
OKLAHOMA  
RAGAN, Oran D.
B.M. 2c, USCG
Waurika
Navy & Marine Corps Medal (Posthumously) For heroism as coxswain of a tank lighter during the assault on French Morocco November 8 to 11, 1942. Whan mountainous waves pounded the beach near Mehdia, keeping all boats at their moorings, Pagan, at great risk of his life, dauntlessly put out from shore with the senior medical officer and 12 wounded comrades. With expert seamanship and grim determination, he took the wounded to safety.
 
WASHINGTON  
PAINE, James W.
Lieut, Comdr., USCG
902 S. 96th St.
Tacoma
Bronze Star For heroic achievement as Gunnery Officer of the USS SAMUEL CHASE during the amphibious landings at North Africa November 8 to 11, 1942. By his marked ability and untiring efforts in developing his inexperienced gun crews into a well functioning unit, he maintained an effective defense of his ship against repeated raids by German aircraft, skillfully controlling the fire of the CHASE with the result that one enemy plane was shot down and two others probably destroyed.

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