Award Letter

The following letter was sent to my grandmother in early 1945. It tells her of the awarding of the Air Medal to my grandfather, George M. Barnes.

Headquarters

Allied Air Forces

Southwest Pacific Area

Office of the Commander

March 29, 1945

Drear Mrs. Barnes:

Recently your husband, Lieutenant George M. Barnes, was decorated with the Air Medal. It was an award made in recognition of courageous service to his combat organization, his fellow American airmen, his country, his home and you.

Your husband was cited for meritorious achievement while participating in sustained operational flight mission in the Southwest Pacific area from July 5, 1944 to December 14, 1944, during which hostile contact was probable and expected. These operations included escorting bombers and transport aircraft, interception and attack missions, and patrol and reconnaissance flights. In the course of these operations, strafing and bombing attacks were made from dangerously low altitudes, destroying and damaging enemy installations and equipment.

Almost every hour of every day your husband, and the husbands of other American women, are doing just such things as that here in the Southwest Pacific.

Theirs is a very real and very tangible contribution to victory and to peace.

I would like to tell you how genuinely proud I am to have men such as your husband in my command, and how gratified I am to know that young Americans with such courage and resourcefulness are fighting our country's battle against the aggressor nations.

You, Mrs. Barnes, have every reason to share that pride and gratification.

Sincerely,

George C. Kenny,

Lieutenant General, U.S.A.,

Commander

Mrs George M. Barnes,

1307 Clifford Street,

Flint, Michigan