Downing is Honored at Army Post – Gallantry in Action at Cassino Awarded at Barksdale
The nation's fourth highest honor—The Silver Star—was presented to Pvt. Corbett W. Downing, Jr. [sic], 6026 Southern Avenue, during retreat parade ceremonies at Barksdale Field yesterday. The medal was awarded Downing for gallantry in action on the Cassino front in February of this year.
As members of the local air base personnel marched in review before army officials, Col. William B. Wright, base commander, pinned the honor medal on Downing and congratulated him on his magnificent courage in performance of duty.
In the words of the citation, Downing was assigned to a sector on the Cassino front to defend against enemy counter-attacks on Feb. 11 and 12 of this year. During the attack he held his fire until enemy forces were within close range. Then he let loose with such a devastating fire with his rifle that the attack was repulsed.
During the attack an enemy hand grenade landed in Downing's foxhole and badly mangled his foot. Despite his painful wounds, he continued to defend his position throughout the night, repelling repeated attempts by the enemy to push past his position.
His magnificent courage, great fortitude and devotion to duty aided materially in preventing the enemy from over-running the company's positions, the citation said.
Downing continued to fight for 24 hours before he was picked up by medical men and brought to a hospital behind the front. He was later removed to a base hospital and returned to the states.
He was honorably discharged from the army in Memphis, Tenn., general hospital in June of this year.
The presentation yesterday was the first of its kind to be presented by Barksdale Field officials inasmuch as Downing was presented the medal after his discharge from the armed forces.
Downing is the son of Corbett Downing of Shreveport and was employed by the Arkansas-Louisiana Natural Gas company here before leaving for service 16 months ago. He served overseas seven months, landing at Naples, Italy, and fighting his way to Cassino.
The Silver Star is awarded to any person serving with the U.S. army or navy who has distinguished himself by gallantry and intrepidity in action.
Published in the Shreveport Times, July 12, 1944
Silver Star: Downing, Corbett W. HQ, 36th Infantry Division, G.O. No. 124 (1944).
The nation's fourth highest honor—The Silver Star—was presented to Pvt. Corbett W. Downing, Jr. [sic], 6026 Southern Avenue, during retreat parade ceremonies at Barksdale Field yesterday. The medal was awarded Downing for gallantry in action on the Cassino front in February of this year.
As members of the local air base personnel marched in review before army officials, Col. William B. Wright, base commander, pinned the honor medal on Downing and congratulated him on his magnificent courage in performance of duty.
In the words of the citation, Downing was assigned to a sector on the Cassino front to defend against enemy counter-attacks on Feb. 11 and 12 of this year. During the attack he held his fire until enemy forces were within close range. Then he let loose with such a devastating fire with his rifle that the attack was repulsed.
During the attack an enemy hand grenade landed in Downing's foxhole and badly mangled his foot. Despite his painful wounds, he continued to defend his position throughout the night, repelling repeated attempts by the enemy to push past his position.
His magnificent courage, great fortitude and devotion to duty aided materially in preventing the enemy from over-running the company's positions, the citation said.
Downing continued to fight for 24 hours before he was picked up by medical men and brought to a hospital behind the front. He was later removed to a base hospital and returned to the states.
He was honorably discharged from the army in Memphis, Tenn., general hospital in June of this year.
The presentation yesterday was the first of its kind to be presented by Barksdale Field officials inasmuch as Downing was presented the medal after his discharge from the armed forces.
Downing is the son of Corbett Downing of Shreveport and was employed by the Arkansas-Louisiana Natural Gas company here before leaving for service 16 months ago. He served overseas seven months, landing at Naples, Italy, and fighting his way to Cassino.
The Silver Star is awarded to any person serving with the U.S. army or navy who has distinguished himself by gallantry and intrepidity in action.
Published in the Shreveport Times, July 12, 1944
Silver Star: Downing, Corbett W. HQ, 36th Infantry Division, G.O. No. 124 (1944).
Downing is Honored at Army Post – Gallantry in Action at Cassino Awarded at Barksdale
The nation's fourth highest honor—The Silver Star—was presented to Pvt. Corbett W. Downing, Jr. [sic], 6026 Southern Avenue, during retreat parade ceremonies at Barksdale Field yesterday. The medal was awarded Downing for gallantry in action on the Cassino front in February of this year.
As members of the local air base personnel marched in review before army officials, Col. William B. Wright, base commander, pinned the honor medal on Downing and congratulated him on his magnificent courage in performance of duty.
In the words of the citation, Downing was assigned to a sector on the Cassino front to defend against enemy counter-attacks on Feb. 11 and 12 of this year. During the attack he held his fire until enemy forces were within close range. Then he let loose with such a devastating fire with his rifle that the attack was repulsed.
During the attack an enemy hand grenade landed in Downing's foxhole and badly mangled his foot. Despite his painful wounds, he continued to defend his position throughout the night, repelling repeated attempts by the enemy to push past his position.
His magnificent courage, great fortitude and devotion to duty aided materially in preventing the enemy from over-running the company's positions, the citation said.
Downing continued to fight for 24 hours before he was picked up by medical men and brought to a hospital behind the front. He was later removed to a base hospital and returned to the states.
He was honorably discharged from the army in Memphis, Tenn., general hospital in June of this year.
The presentation yesterday was the first of its kind to be presented by Barksdale Field officials inasmuch as Downing was presented the medal after his discharge from the armed forces.
Downing is the son of Corbett Downing of Shreveport and was employed by the Arkansas-Louisiana Natural Gas company here before leaving for service 16 months ago. He served overseas seven months, landing at Naples, Italy, and fighting his way to Cassino.
The Silver Star is awarded to any person serving with the U.S. army or navy who has distinguished himself by gallantry and intrepidity in action.
Published in the Shreveport Times, July 12, 1944
Silver Star: Downing, Corbett W. HQ, 36th Infantry Division, G.O. No. 124 (1944).
The nation's fourth highest honor—The Silver Star—was presented to Pvt. Corbett W. Downing, Jr. [sic], 6026 Southern Avenue, during retreat parade ceremonies at Barksdale Field yesterday. The medal was awarded Downing for gallantry in action on the Cassino front in February of this year.
As members of the local air base personnel marched in review before army officials, Col. William B. Wright, base commander, pinned the honor medal on Downing and congratulated him on his magnificent courage in performance of duty.
In the words of the citation, Downing was assigned to a sector on the Cassino front to defend against enemy counter-attacks on Feb. 11 and 12 of this year. During the attack he held his fire until enemy forces were within close range. Then he let loose with such a devastating fire with his rifle that the attack was repulsed.
During the attack an enemy hand grenade landed in Downing's foxhole and badly mangled his foot. Despite his painful wounds, he continued to defend his position throughout the night, repelling repeated attempts by the enemy to push past his position.
His magnificent courage, great fortitude and devotion to duty aided materially in preventing the enemy from over-running the company's positions, the citation said.
Downing continued to fight for 24 hours before he was picked up by medical men and brought to a hospital behind the front. He was later removed to a base hospital and returned to the states.
He was honorably discharged from the army in Memphis, Tenn., general hospital in June of this year.
The presentation yesterday was the first of its kind to be presented by Barksdale Field officials inasmuch as Downing was presented the medal after his discharge from the armed forces.
Downing is the son of Corbett Downing of Shreveport and was employed by the Arkansas-Louisiana Natural Gas company here before leaving for service 16 months ago. He served overseas seven months, landing at Naples, Italy, and fighting his way to Cassino.
The Silver Star is awarded to any person serving with the U.S. army or navy who has distinguished himself by gallantry and intrepidity in action.
Published in the Shreveport Times, July 12, 1944
Silver Star: Downing, Corbett W. HQ, 36th Infantry Division, G.O. No. 124 (1944).
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