File:Letter concerning Wallace Herbert Higginbotham (1916-1990) decorated with the Air Medal from July 25, 1943.jpg

HEADQUARTERS FIFTH AIR FORCE
A.P.O. 925 July 25, 1943


Dear Mrs. Higginbotham:

Recently, your son Private Wallace H. Higginbotham, 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 home, and to you.

He was cited for meritorious achievement while >participating in an aerial flight over the north coast of New Guinea.

e wae e me:-2br of thc.:. crew of a 2?)-t-1; tye aircroft eh, gaged on an individual reconnalesence mission over hostile terri-tory which had never been photographed, .Ar enemy vessel wrs sighted and bombing runs were mnde, with the result that e direct hit war scor,ed wch. set the vessel on fire. A Iwo level bombing run wos then made and two direct hit.7 were scored causing the vessel to sink. within a short period, during these operations, the plane was subjected to intense anti-aircraft and machine gun fire.

Almost every hour of every day your son, and the sons of oth.er American mothers, are doing just such thin that here in the Southwest Their' is very real and very tangible contribution victory and to peace. I would 117(:6 to tell you how genuinely proud Iam to have men such as your son in my command, and how gratified I am to know that young ':tericanr with such couraFe and resourcefulness 74-e fighting'our country's tattle ei;.'ainst the agizressor nations. You, Mrs. Higginbotham, have every reason t hare that pride „Tr-tificstIon.

Very sincerely,
George C. Kenney,
Lieutenant General,
Commanding.


Mrs. Ora Higginbotham
5681 Ocean View Drive,
Oakland, California

• Wallace Herbert Higginbotham (1916-1990)
• Ora Rathja (1886-1972), mother
• George Churchill Kenney (1889-1970), Lieutenant General

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