I received a scan of this newspaper article from a reader, and wanted to share it. There's no date or other information, but based on the presence of an air base in France, that would put it near the end of the war in Europe. I found a similar article describing one of my uncles getting a medal during the same war, and was able to share it with him after all these years. Just a reminder that we still have soldiers in the field, and they are still at risk every day.
A NINTH AIR FORCE FIGHER-BOMBER BASE. France -- Corporal John R Reilly, Jamaica Plain, Mass., receives the Soldier's Medal from Lt. Col. Harold N. Holt, Philadelphia, Pa, his commanding officer. The P-47 Thunderbolt mechanic was awarded the decoration for saving a fellow soldier's life.
A Ninth Air Force Fighter-Bomber Base, France -- For smothering flames on a fellow soldier's clothing without regard for his own safety, Corporal John R. Reilly, 14 Boynton street, Jamaica Plain, Mass, has been awarded the Soldier's Medal at headquarters of a U.S. Ninth Air Force fighter-bomber group in France.
Corporal Reilly was on kitchen police when he saw another soldier running through the bivouac area with his clothes afire. Corporal Reilly ran after the man, tackled him and threw himself on the flames.
The son of Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Reilly, the corporal is a mechanic at the "Hun Hunter" P-47 Thunderbolt base in France.
WOW! John is my Mothers First cousin.
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