INDIVIDUALS of the 30th DECORATED for SERVICE

Aug. 16th, 1945...Most decorated 30th ID enlisted men and officers meet with their commanding Generals before boarding the "Queen Mary" at Southhampton Port of Embarkation, England, for redeployment to the United States.  L-R: 1st Row; Pfc. Louis J. Cullen, 119th of 631 Freeman St., Brookfield, MO (Silver & Bronze Star); Pfc. Frank D. Joseph Jr.,117th of 878 Sandusky St., Ashland, OH (Distinguished Service Cross & French Croix De Guerre); 1st Sgt. Francis S. Currey, 120th of Box 192, Hurleyville,  NY (Congressional Medal of Honor & Silver Star); Maj. General Leland S. Hobbs; Brig. General James M. Lewis; Pfc. Kenneth C. Thayer, 119th of 411 Coolidge Rd, Utica, NY (Distinguished Service Cross); 1st Lt. Thelbert L. Barker, 119th of Hunt, VA (Silver Star & Bronze Star w/Oak Leaf Cluster);  2nd Row: L-R; S/Sgt. Edwin S. Wolski, 117th of Hildreth Ave., South Hadley, MA (Silver and Bronze Stars); S/Sgt. Franklin W. Denius, 230th FA of 507 E. Tyler St., Athens, TX (Silver Star w/ 2 Oak Leaf Clusters); Capt. Edward M Hill, 120th, (Silver Star & Bronze Star w/ 4 Oak Leaf Clusters); Capt. Gerald E. Posner, 119th, (Silver Star w/ Oak Leaf Cluster & Bronze Star); Sgt. James R. Van Winkle, 117th, (Silver Star & Bronze Star w/ 2 Oak Leaf Clusters).

1st Lt. Andrew W. Allen, Jr., Washington D.C., 117th, Silver Star, Dec. 11th, 1944.

Pfc. Ralph Henson, 113th FA, Silver Star,...note: Henson was on the LST that hit a mine in the English channel in June, '44.

S.Sgt. Robert A. Aitken, 117th, Long Island, NY, Silver Star, Dec. 11th, 1944.

Maj. Gen. Leland Hobbs presents the Distinguished Service Cross to Lt. Col. Arthur H. Fuller, 117th, of NC.  He led his men in an assault on an enemy machine gun nest that was holding up the advance.  Armed only with a pistol, he went out after the gun alone, and inspired by his action, four of his men joined him voluntarily.  One of the men was killed, another wounded.  Dec. 3rd, 1944.

Pfc. Esterino A. Benson, 30 Recon, Detroit, MI, receives the Silver Star from Gen. James Lewis on June 22nd, 1945 at Treuen, Germany.

1st Lt. Gene A. Barthelme, 230th FA, Ste Marie, IL receives the Silver Star from Gen. James Lewis on June 9th, 1945 at Possneck, Germany.

S/Sgt. Louis K. Beard, 105th Eng., Hicksville, Long Island, NY, receives the Silver Star from Gen. Hobbs on Apr. 24th, 1945 in Magdeburg, Germany.

S/Sgt. Charles M. Beneke, 120th, Columbus, NE, receives the Silver Star from Gen. Lewis at Camp Oklahoma City near Reims, France.

Lt. Melvin Henry Bieber, 743 TB, Waterloo, IA, receives the Distinguished Service Cross from Gen. Hobbs, on Feb. 16th, 1944.

S/Sgt. George N. Beck, 119th, Cromwell, KY, receives the Silver Star from Gen. Hobbs, in Magdeburg, Germany.

S/Sgt. Brian H. Bennett, 119th, Newburyport, MS, receives the Silver Star from Gen. Hobbs at Sustern, Holland, on March 15th, 1945.

S/Sgt. Louis N. Christiansen, 120th, Spring City, UT, receives the Silver Star with Oak Leaf Cluster from Gen. Hobbs at Brachterbrek, Holland.

T/5 Joseph J. Chikla, Jr., 230th FA, New Haven, CN receives the Silver Star at Possneck.

Pfc. Edward F. Cizek, 117th, Buffalo, NY, receives the Silver Star from Gen. Hobbs.

2nd Lt. Robert F. Ackerman, 117th, Co. E, Springfield, MA, receives the Silver Star from Gen. Hobbs.

Pvt. Jacob Altergott, 743th TB, Scottsbluff, NE, receives the Silver Star from Gen. Lewis on June 21st, 1945 at Meltheuer, Germany.

Lt. Alwyn D. Conger, 113th FA, Tacoma, WA, receives the Distinguished Service Cross from Gen. Lewis on June 23rd, 1945.  As a forward observer he moved through enemy fire to direct artillery on enemy guns which had halted his units advance.  When fired on by an enemy machine gun, he advanced and killed the entire crew.