 Lieut. Leo Petry |
WITH THE 40TH INFANTRY DIVISION ON PANAY. - In a daring move, three days before 40th Infantry division assault troops landed on Panay, nine division artillerymen landed on the island to establish a forward communications and air base.
The nine men are:
Lieutenant Leo Petry, 26 years old, husband of Mrs. Miriam Petry, 116 South Fifteenth street, Richmond, Ind. Petry, who was in charge of the advance party, pilots a liaison Cub plane and is the division air engineering officer.
Lieutenant Warren G. Brandow, 31 years old, Long Island, New York. He is the air officer of the 213th Field Artillery battalion.
Lieutenant Charles A. Nolen, 24 years old. West Frankfort, Ill. He acted as air observer for the party.
Lieutenant Clarence D. Cain, 29 years old, Liberty, Tex. Cain acted as one of the flying artillery observers on the advance mission.
Corporal James B. Bird, 32 years old, Odebolt, Iowa. Bird was the first 40th Infantry division man to set foot on Panay, and was instrumental in the success of the liaison party for getting his plane assembled in a record time of three hours.
Technician Third Grade Sgt. Leonard P. Beck, 23 years old, Oakley Village, Baltimore, Md. Beck is one of the flying Cub mechanics and has two hours flying time at the "stick."
Private Leon Weber, 22 years old, Pontiac, Mich. Weber is a Piper Cub mechanic.
Technician Fourth Grade Sgt. Floyd T. Lucas, Litchfield, Nebr. Lucas, radio operator, maintained communication from ground to air.
Technician Fourth Grade Corp. Curtis F. Pyle, 34 years old, Zanesville, Ohio. Pyle, radio operator, maintains ground to air communications.
Land Same Day
March 15, the nine boarded army transports, bringing with them, two Piper Cub planes (disassembled), gasoline, radios and food rations. They landed the same day, 40 miles north of Iloilo, the provincial capital and the most important city in the Philippines, second only to Manila. The Japanese had been using Iloilo as their Panay base headquarters.
At noon of Mar. 15, Corporal Bird informed Lieutenant Petry that his plane was ready to fly. The party's other plane was ready shortly thereafter but inclement weather prevented the liaison pilots from making their "test hop."
 L-4 Grasshopper aircraft of the 40th Infantry Division in Negros Island |
The liaison party arrived at the spot they were to select for their advance air base for Piper Cub operations some 20 miles north of Iloilo.
Guerrilla Help
The guerrilla engineer battalion which had escorted the Yanks, immediately went to work in converting the highway into an air strip. They worked feverishly, cutting down and moving everything on both flanks of the road.
Two hours later, Petry accepted a hand phone from the guerrilla leader and to his amazement he found that he was in communication with the personnel at the rear air base some 25 miles away.
This guerrilla telephone line ran 50 miles inland from Iloilo while the island was still under Japanese control. It had been in operation for more than a year and was never detected because at a glance it appeared to be a harmless one-strand barbed wire line.
The Cub strip completed, Petry and his party started back to their rear air base to await subsequent orders. When they came to within five miles of their base, the train stopped suddenly, just as mysteriously as previously in the day.
Lieutenant Brandow said, "We didn't know what to make of the sudden interruption, and right in the middle of nowhere. The guerrilla leader approached us and said, 'now we eat' and then ordered us across the field to a barrio beyond. As we approached the barrio we were greeted by hundreds of Filipinos who showered us with all types of food. A brassy band started to play old American tunes. Here we ate and dined as we have never done since we left the states. I am sure when I say, 'speaking for all the boys in the advance party,' we really enjoyed every minute we spent with these people on Panay."
A day before the infantrymen of the 40th division were to land on the beaches of Panay, the weather was clear and the liaison pilots flew to and landed on their advanced air base.
 Huddling over map of Tigbauan |
Mrs. Petry, who works at the Natco, said Thursday she had received some information about her husband's latest exploit but none of the details. Lieutenan Petry is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Petry of Eaton. Before entering the service he was employed by Montgomery Ward and Co.
G.O. No. 84, Hq 40th Inf Div, APO 40, 14 May 1945
III. AWARD OF THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL (OAK-LEAF CLUSTER)
By direction of the President, in addition to the Bronze Star Medal awarded to Second Lieutenant Charles A. Nolen by the Commanding General, 40th Infantry Division, as published on page 3, General Orders No. 12, dated 14 February 1945, a Bronze Oak-Leaf Cluster is awarded to him by the Commanding General, 40th Infantry Division, under the provisions of Executive Order No. 9419, 4 February 1944 (Sec II, Bulletin 3, WD, 1944). The citation is as follows:
Second Lieutenant CHARLES A. NOLEN, 01173730, Field Artillery United States Army. For heroic achievement in connection with military operations against the enemy on Panay P.I., from 16 March to 18 March 1945. Second Lieutenant Nolen, as a member of a special reconnaissance group, landed by air near Dumrao two days before the beach assault by American troops. He participated in the assembling of two dismantled L-4 planes which were quickly put in flying condition. By resourcefulness and tireless efforts, he helped establish a forward air strip. Operating from this strip the piots and observers flew over enemy territory where they observed and gained vital information as to the condition of landing beaches, roads, bridges, and disposition of enemy forces. The information gained was communicated by radio to our troops prior to their landing, thereby greatly contributing to the successful amphibious landing and subsequent operation. Home address: Mrs. Charles A. Nolen (wife), 2027 N. 7th St., Terre Haute, Indiana.
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IV. AWARD OF THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL:
??? ??? of General Orders No. 78, this Headquarters, cs, pertaining Second Lieutenant Charles A. Nolen, 01173730, Field Artillery, United States Army, is rescinded.
BY COMMAND OF MAJOR GENERAL BRUSH:
GEORGE W. LATIMER,
Colonel, GSC,
Chief of Staff.
G.O. No. 78, Hq 40th Inf Div, APO 40, 7 May 1945
II. AWARD OF THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL:
By direction of the President, under the provisions of Executive Order No. 9419, 4 February 1944 (Sec II, Bulletin 3, WD, 1944) a Bronze Star Medal is awarded by the Commanding General, 40th Infantry Division, to the following named enlisted men and officers:
Technician Fifth Grade JAMES B. BIRD, 372512?4, Field Artillery, United States Army. For heroic achievement in connection with military operations against the enemy on Panay, P.I., from 16 March to 18 March 1945. Technician Fifth Grade Bird, as a member of a special reconnaissance group, landed by air near Dumrao two days before the beach assault by American troops. He participated in the assembling of two dismantled L-4 planes which were quickly put in flying condition. By resourcefulness and tireless efforts, he helped establish a forward air strip. Operating from this strip the pilots and observers flew over enemy territory where they observed and gained vital information as to the condition of landing beaches, roads, bridges, and disposition of enemy forces. The information gained was communicated by radio to our troops prior to their landing, thereby greatly contributing to the successful amphibious landing and subsequent operation. Home address: Mrs. James B. Bird (wife), Odebolt, Iowa.
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https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/119146710/james-boniventure-bird
https://www.familysearch.org/en/tree/person/sources/LYY1-DFH
First Lieutenant WARREN G. BRANDOW, 01176265, Field Artillery, United States Army. For heroic achievement in connection with military operations against the enemy on Panay, P.I., from 16 March to 18 March 1945. First Lieutenant Brandow, as a member of a special reconnaissance group, landed by air near Dumrao two days before the beach assault by American troops. He participated in the assembling of two dismantled L-4 planes which were put in flying condition. By resourcefulness and tireless efforts, he helped establish a forward air strip. Operating from this strip the pilots and observers flew over enemy territory where they observed and gained vital information as to the condition of landing beaches, roads, bridges, and disposition of enemy forces. The information gained was communicated by radio to our troops prior to their landing, thereby greatly contributing to the successful amphibious landing and subsequent operation. Home address: Mrs. Millie Durr (Aunt), 2974 Cooper Ave., Forrest Hill, New York.
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https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/2622529/warren-g-brandow
First Lieutenant CLARENCE D. CAIN, 01180440, Field Artillery, United States Army. For heroic achievement in connection with military operations against the enemy on Panay, P.I., from 16 March to 18 March 1945. First Lieutenant Cain, as a member of a special reconnaissance group, landed by air near Dumrao two days before the beach assault by American troops. He participated in the assembling of two dismantled L-4 planes which were put in flying condition. By resourcefulness and tireless efforts, he helped establish a forward air strip. Operating from this strip the pilots and observers flew over enemy territory where they observed and gained vital information as to the condition of landing beaches, roads, bridges, and disposition of enemy forces. The information gained was communicated by radio to our troops prior to their landing, thereby greatly contributing to the successful amphibious landing and subsequent operation. Home address: Mrs. Clarence D. Cain (wife), Dayton, Texas.
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https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/74819450/clarence-dodd-cain
Technician Third Grade LEONARD P. DECK, 33559740, Field Artillery, United States Army. For heroic achievement in connection with military operations against the enemy on Panay, P.I., from 16 March to 18 March 1945. Technician Third Grade Deck, as a member of a special reconnaissance group, landed by air near Dumrao two days before the beach assault by American troops. He participated in the assembling of two dismantled L-4 planes which were quickly put in flying condition. By resourcefulness and tireless efforts, he helped establish a forward air strip. Operating from this strip the pilots and observers flew over enemy territory where they observed and gained vital information as to the condition of landing beaches, roads, bridges, and disposition of enemy forces. The information gained was communicated by radio to our troops prior to their landing, thereby greatly contributing to the successful amphibious landing and subsequent operation. Home address: Mrs. Anna A. Deck (mother), Apt. 223, Oaklee Village, Baltimore, Maryland.
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https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/36053097/leonard-preston-deck
Technician Fourth Grade FLOYD T. LUCAS, 37086558, Field Artillery, United States Army. For heroic achievement in connection with military operations against the enemy on Panay, P.I., from 16 March to 18 March 1945. Technician Fourth Grade Lucas, as a member of a special reconnaissance group, landed by air near Dumrao two days before the beach assault by American troops. He participated in the assembling of two dismantled L-4 planes which were quickly put in flying condition. By resourcefulness and tireless efforts, he helped establish a forward air strip. Operating from this strip the pilots and observers flew over enemy territory where they observed and gained vital information as to the condition of landing beaches, roads, bridges, and disposition of enemy forces. The information gained was communicated by radio to our troops prior to their landing, thereby greatly contributing to the successful amphibious landing and subsequent operation. Home address: Mr. Roy Lucas (father), RFD 2, Litchfield, Nebraska.
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https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/26025443/floyd-thomas-lucas
RESC BY G.O. #84, 14 MAY 1945
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Captain LEO W. PETRY, 01177577, Field Artillery, United States Army. For heroic achievement in connection with military operations against the enemy on Panay, P.I., from 16 March to 18 March 1945. Captain Petry, as a member of a special reconnaissance group, landed by air near Dumrao two days before the beach assault by American troops. He participated in the assembling of two dismantled L-4 planes which were quickly put in flying condition. By resourcefulness and tireless efforts, he helped establish a forward air strip. Operating from this strip the pilots and observers flew over enemy territory where they observed and gained vital information as to the condition of landing beaches, roads, bridges, and disposition of enemy forces. The information gained was communicated by radio to our troops prior to their landing, thereby greatly contributing to the successful amphibious landing and subsequent operation. Home address: Mrs. Leo W. Petry (wife), 116 S. 15th St., Richmond, Indiana.
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https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/23534214/leo-walter-petry
Technician Fifth Grade CURTIS F. PYLE, 35004300, Field Artillery, United States Army. For heroic achievement in connection with military operations against the enemy on Panay, P.I., from 16 March to 18 March 1945. Technician Fifth Grade Pyle, as a member of a special reconnaissance group, landed by air near Dumrao two days before the beach assault by American troops. He participated in the assembling of two dismantled L-4 planes which were quickly put in flying condition. By resourcefulness and tireless efforts, he helped establish a forward air strip. Operating from this strip the pilots and observers flew over enemy territory where they observed and gained vital information as to the condition of landing beaches, roads, bridges, and disposition of enemy forces. The information gained was communicated by radio to our troops prior to their landing, thereby greatly contributing to the successful amphibious landing and subsequent operation. Home address: Mrs. Mary Pyle (mother), 929 Market St., Zanesville, Ohio.
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https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/9713278/curtis-franklin-pyle
Private LEON C. WEBBER, 36550631, Field Artillery, United States Army. For heroic achievement in connection with military operations against the enemy on Panay, P.I., from 16 March to 18 March 1945. Private Webber, as a member of a special reconnaissance group, landed by air near Dumrao two days before the beach assault by American troops. He participated in the assembling of two dismantled L-4 planes which were quickly put in flying condition. By resourcefulness and tireless efforts, he helped establish a forward air strip. Operating from this strip the pilots and observers flew over enemy territory where they observed and gained vital information as to the condition of landing beaches, roads, bridges, and disposition of enemy forces. The information gained was communicated by radio to our troops prior to their landing, thereby greatly contributing to the successful amphibious landing and subsequent operation. Home address: Mrs. Lela Webber (mother), RFD 7, Box 279, Pontiac, Mich.
61
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/62105415/leon-c-webber
BY COMMAND OF MAJOR GENERAL BRUSH:
GEORGE W. LATIMER,
Colonel, GSC,
Chief of Staff.
G.O. No. 71, Hq 40th Inf Div, APO 40, 2 May 1945
II. AWARDS OF THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL:
By direction of the President, under the provisions of Executive Order No. 9419, 4 February 1944 (Sec II, Bulletin 3, WD, 1944) a Bronze Star Medal is awarded by the Commanding General, 40th Infantry Division, to the following named enlisted man and officers:
Technician Fourth Grade ARNOLD J. JACOBSON, 37074832, Field Artillery, United States Army. For heroic achievement in connection with military operations against the enemy near Iloilo, Panay, P.I., from 16 March to 18 March 1945. Technician Fourth Grade Jacobson, acting as a radio operator with an officer observer, landed on the enemy-held island two days prior to invasion, with the mission of assisting in establishing an artillery observation post and radio station. He made his way several miles over land to a point overlooking the city. From this position, although in constant danger of discovery, Technician Fourth Grade Jacobson maintained communication and enabled broadcast of valuable information until the area was captured and occupied by friendly troops. Home address: Mrs. Anne O. Jacobson (mother), 820 - 2d Ave S., St. James, Minnesota.
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First Lieutenant BOB B. WALLAN, 02036937, Field Artillery, United States Army. For heroic achievement in connection with military operations against the enemy near Iloilo, Panay, P.I., from 16 March to 18 March 1945. First Lieutenant Wallan, accompanied by a radio operator, landed by plane on the enemy-held island two days prior to invasion, with the mission of establishing an artillery observation post and radio station. He made his way several miles over land to a point overlooking the city. From this position, although in constant danger of discovery, First Lieutenant Wallan broadcast valuable information until the area was captured and occupied by friendly troops. Home address: Mrs. Francis Wallan (mother), 1434 S. E. Harney, Portland, Oregon.
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BY COMMAND OF MAJOR GENERAL BRUSH:
GEORGE W. LATIMER,
Colonel, GSC,
Chief of Staff.
