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Mather Field Awards Citations

MATHER FIELD... Immediate Release... Two men were awarded citations by the War Department at Mather Field, Army Air Forces Advanced Flying School, Sacramento, on the same day. T/Sgt. James C. Bowers was awarded the Soldier's Medal for Heroism for his brave efforts and quick action in extinguishing a fire in a Mather Field warehouse, containing ammunition and pyrotechnics. With another non-commissioned officer he entered the warehouse, at great danger of personal injury, and proceeded to remove boxes of burning flares and extinguish the fire. The medal was presented to Bowers by Lieutenant Colonel R. E. Robeck. Bowers is serving his fifth year with the Air Corps - having been previously stationed at Wheeler Field, Hawaii. The second award, the Silver Star for distinguished service and gallantry in action, was presented to Aviation Cadet Glenn H. Carlsgaard. The citation was ordered because of his action as an airplane gunner during the Battle of Midway. Cadet Carlsgaard was stationed in Hawaii where, as a Technical Sergeant, he served as an aerial engineer and gunner. His squadron was ordered to Midway and arrived there during the thick of battle. His crew is credited with shooting down two Jap Zero planes, setting one destroyer afire, three near-hits on another and the sinking of one cruiser. He fought through the whole battle of Midway and returned to his base in Hawaii. At present Carlsgaard is training to become a pilot at Mather Field so that he can "return to the Pacific and let 'em have it from my own plane".