My Dad always played down the significance of this medal by saying
"Everybody
got one of those".
This medal was developed in 1944 just for guys like my Dad.
People
who did more than they had to to help win a war! I hope that I
don't
embarrass him too much by putting up his CO's recommendation
here.
It really tells a great deal about what he did in the CBI Theater of
WWII.
HEADQUARTERS
CHANGTING AIR BASE
Changting, China
17 May 1945
SUBJECT: Recommendation for Award of Bronze Star Medal,
1st Lt. CHARLES E. HACKING, 0-579965, 18TH
Airways.
TO :
Commanding
Officer, 18 Airways Detachment,
APO 430 c/o Postmaster, New York, N.Y.
1. It is recommended that 1st Lt. CHARLES E. HACKING, be
awarded
the Bronze Star Medal for outstanding achievement in support of combat
operations during the period 1 May 1944 to 1 May 1945.
2. Lt.
Hacking’s
exceptional service has been outstanding throughout critical days at
KWEILIN,
LIUCHOW, SUICHWAN, KANCHOW AND CHANGTING. At the first four (4)
tactical
bases, Lt. Hacking remained to the evacuation stage and performed in a
superior manner under the diversity of exacting assignments for which
only
the best individuals are selected in such operations. During the
evacuation phase of HENGYANG and LINGLING, Lt. Hacking was sent from
KWEILIN
to recon escape route via KUKONG to LIUCHOW by road. Lt. Hacking
succeeded, by indomitable energy and ingenuity, in getting through road
washouts and ferry obstacles that had blocked others, reaching KUKONG
and
eventually bringing out approximately twenty-five (25)
truckloads.
Also at KWEILIN, Lt. Hacking, as Air Rescue Officer went within a few
miles
of Jap lines two (2) days before evacuation and brought out a crashed
pilot.
At LIUCHOW Lt. Hacking, in addition to other duties, brought in
seventeen
(17) crashed pilots and crew members in thirty (30) days. Lt
Hacking
established an advance bivouac at HOSHIEH and four (4) days before
evacuation
put it into operation. Continuing from there in command of a
convoy,
Lt Hacking delivered part of the convoy to KWEIYANG, then continued to
KUNMING with the remaining vehicles. Assigned to SUICHWAN, by
specific
request of the Base Commander, Lt. Hacking demonstrated the same high
degree
of skill and executive ability in virtually every department in
re-activating
that Base. At evacuation Lt. Hacking had full charge of getting
out
supplies and material via a fleet of thirty (30) beat-up Chinese
trucks,
and found time to render valuable assistance as Executive Officer in
coordinating
evacuation, including the hard physical task of destroying hostels and
other installations. Arriving at CHANGTING, sleeping in jeeps two
nights along the road after three days and nights without rest
evacuating
KANCHOW, Lt. Hacking plunged into another Base activation and has been
invaluable through his energy, experience, resourcefulness, judgement
and
ability to handle all types of personnel.
-1-
3. At five (5) successive Bases, four (4) of which were active
combat centers, and the fifth a staging field from which valuable
missions
have been run by as many as thirty-two (32) Fighters at one time, LT.
Hacking
has consistantly maintained a high degree of professional, physical and
mental output identifying the superior type of Officer, and as such
definitely
merits the award of the Bronze Star Medal.
4. NAME - CHARLES E. HACKING.
ASN - 0-579965.
DATE OF BIRTH - 2 August 1916.
NEXT OF KIN - Mrs Ruth E. Hacking.. (Wife)
HOME ADDRESS - 68 Lorraine Ave., Providence,
R.I.
STATE OF ENLISTMENT - Rhode Island.
DECORATIONS SINCE 7 Dec. 41 - Bronze Star
on Theater Ribbon.
5. The entire service of Lt. Hacking during and since the
cited
period has been honorable and exemplary.
2. Lt.
Hacking’s
exceptional service has been outstanding throughout critical days at
KWEILIN,
LIUCHOW, SUICHWAN, KANCHOW AND CHANGTING. At the first four (4)
tactical
bases, Lt. Hacking remained to the evacuation stage and performed in a
superior manner under the diversity of exacting assignments for which
only
the best individuals are selected in such operations. During the
evacuation phase of HENGYANG and LINGLING, Lt. Hacking was sent from
KWEILIN
to recon escape route via KUKONG to LIUCHOW by road. Lt. Hacking
succeeded, by indomitable energy and ingenuity, in getting through road
washouts and ferry obstacles that had blocked others, reaching KUKONG
and
eventually bringing out approximately twenty-five (25)
truckloads.
Also at KWEILIN, Lt. Hacking, as Air Rescue Officer went within a few
miles
of Jap lines two (2) days before evacuation and brought out a crashed
pilot.
At LIUCHOW Lt. Hacking, in addition to other duties, brought in
seventeen
(17) crashed pilots and crew members in thirty (30) days. Lt
Hacking
established an advance bivouac at HOSHIEH and four (4) days before
evacuation
put it into operation. Continuing from there in command of a
convoy,
Lt Hacking delivered part of the convoy to KWEIYANG, then continued to
KUNMING with the remaining vehicles. Assigned to SUICHWAN, by
specific
request of the Base Commander, Lt. Hacking demonstrated the same high
degree
of skill and executive ability in virtually every department in
re-activating
that Base. At evacuation Lt. Hacking had full charge of getting
out
supplies and material via a fleet of thirty (30) beat-up Chinese
trucks,
and found time to render valuable assistance as Executive Officer in
coordinating
evacuation, including the hard physical task of destroying hostels and
other installations. Arriving at CHANGTING, sleeping in jeeps two
nights along the road after three days and nights without rest
evacuating
KANCHOW, Lt. Hacking plunged into another Base activation and has been
invaluable through his energy, experience, resourcefulness, judgement
and
ability to handle all types of personnel.
