Медаль за выдающиеся заслуги торгового флота/Merchant Marine Distinguished Service
- Автор темы Igor Ostapenko
- Дата начала
Igor Ostapenko
Участник АК
Посмертная группа на ordinary seaman Richard G Matthiesen служившего на SS Marcus Daly. После того, как его корабль врезался японский бомбардировщик, он (несмотря на то, что сам был ранен) сумел вытащить двух своих раненых товарищей из огня.
Presidential Statement in Memory of
Richard G. Matthiesen
On January 4, 1946, President Harry S. Truman
and the United States Maritime Commission posthumously
awarded the Merchant Marine Distinguished Service
Medal to Able Seaman Richard G. Matthiesen.
The following statement was given by President
Truman in the presentation of the special war medal.
For heroism beyond the call of duty.
During the initial invasion of the Philippine
Islands at Tacloban, Leyte, the SS Marcus Daly,
on which Matthiesen was serving, carried troops
and vital war materiel and, with two other vessels,
afforded the principal defenses of the port for
several days. During six days and nights of incessant
fighting, while troops were being disembarked and her
cargo safely discharged, the vessel was at times the
only fire power defending the vital Leyte docks.
Matthiesen volunteered and served as a member of gun
crew which distinguished itself during countless
attacks by repulsing the enemy and bringing down
many planes.
Two months later, on a subsequent arrival in the
Philippines, this same vessel was again attacked
by enemy bombers. Again Matthiesen served as a
volunteer member of the forward gun crew during the
engagement in which his ship shot down several Japanese
aircraft.
One of these bombers after being hit, crashed and
exploded under the forward gun platform where
Matthiesen was serving. Despite injuries and severe
burns, he escaped from the platform, but realizing
that two members of the Navy gun crew remained behind,
he returned through the intense heat and rescued them
from the flames. The following morning Matthiesen
died from the resulting burns and other injuries.
His indomitable courage and unselfish impulse to go to
the aid of shipmates in peril were in keeping with
the highest traditions of the United States Merchant
Marine.
Date of Action: December 5, 1944
Matthiesen was 18 years old.
Richard G. Matthiesen
On January 4, 1946, President Harry S. Truman
and the United States Maritime Commission posthumously
awarded the Merchant Marine Distinguished Service
Medal to Able Seaman Richard G. Matthiesen.
The following statement was given by President
Truman in the presentation of the special war medal.
For heroism beyond the call of duty.
During the initial invasion of the Philippine
Islands at Tacloban, Leyte, the SS Marcus Daly,
on which Matthiesen was serving, carried troops
and vital war materiel and, with two other vessels,
afforded the principal defenses of the port for
several days. During six days and nights of incessant
fighting, while troops were being disembarked and her
cargo safely discharged, the vessel was at times the
only fire power defending the vital Leyte docks.
Matthiesen volunteered and served as a member of gun
crew which distinguished itself during countless
attacks by repulsing the enemy and bringing down
many planes.
Two months later, on a subsequent arrival in the
Philippines, this same vessel was again attacked
by enemy bombers. Again Matthiesen served as a
volunteer member of the forward gun crew during the
engagement in which his ship shot down several Japanese
aircraft.
One of these bombers after being hit, crashed and
exploded under the forward gun platform where
Matthiesen was serving. Despite injuries and severe
burns, he escaped from the platform, but realizing
that two members of the Navy gun crew remained behind,
he returned through the intense heat and rescued them
from the flames. The following morning Matthiesen
died from the resulting burns and other injuries.
His indomitable courage and unselfish impulse to go to
the aid of shipmates in peril were in keeping with
the highest traditions of the United States Merchant
Marine.
Date of Action: December 5, 1944
Matthiesen was 18 years old.
Его представление на MMDSM
The President of the United States takes Pleasure in Presenting the Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal to
Richard G. Matthiesen
Ordinary Seaman on SS Marcus Daly 12/10/44
For heroism beyond the call of duty
During the initial invasion of the Philippine Islands at Tacloban, Leyte, the SS Marcus Daly, in which Matthiesen was serving, carried troops and vital war material and, with two other vessels, afforded the principal defenses of the port for several days. During six days and nights of incessant fighting, while troops were being disembarked and her cargo safely discharged, the vessel was at times the only fire power defending the vital Leyte docks. Matthiesen volunteered and served as a member of the forward gun crew which distinguished itself during countless attacks by repulsing the enemy and bringing down many planes.
Two months later, on a subsequent arrival in the Philippines, this same vessel was again attacked by enemy bombers. Again Matthiesen served as a volunteer member of the gun crew during the engagement in which his ship shot down several Japanese aircraft. One of these bombers, after being hit, crashed and exploded under the forward gun platform, where Matthiesen was serving. Despite injuries and severe burns he escaped from the platform, but realizing that two members of the Navy gun crew remained behind, he returned through the intense heat and rescued them from the flames. The following morning Matthiesen died from the resulting burns and other injuries. [Buried Manila American Cemetery Location L-10-36]
His indomitable courage and unselfish impulse to go to the aid of shipmates in peril were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Merchant Marine.
The President of the United States takes Pleasure in Presenting the Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal to
Richard G. Matthiesen
Ordinary Seaman on SS Marcus Daly 12/10/44
For heroism beyond the call of duty
During the initial invasion of the Philippine Islands at Tacloban, Leyte, the SS Marcus Daly, in which Matthiesen was serving, carried troops and vital war material and, with two other vessels, afforded the principal defenses of the port for several days. During six days and nights of incessant fighting, while troops were being disembarked and her cargo safely discharged, the vessel was at times the only fire power defending the vital Leyte docks. Matthiesen volunteered and served as a member of the forward gun crew which distinguished itself during countless attacks by repulsing the enemy and bringing down many planes.
Two months later, on a subsequent arrival in the Philippines, this same vessel was again attacked by enemy bombers. Again Matthiesen served as a volunteer member of the gun crew during the engagement in which his ship shot down several Japanese aircraft. One of these bombers, after being hit, crashed and exploded under the forward gun platform, where Matthiesen was serving. Despite injuries and severe burns he escaped from the platform, but realizing that two members of the Navy gun crew remained behind, he returned through the intense heat and rescued them from the flames. The following morning Matthiesen died from the resulting burns and other injuries. [Buried Manila American Cemetery Location L-10-36]
His indomitable courage and unselfish impulse to go to the aid of shipmates in peril were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Merchant Marine.
For the President
Admiral Emory Scott Land
Admiral Emory Scott Land
Igor Ostapenko
Участник АК
Герой ! 
