Another Medic Gets Medal

FRI 8 JUN 1945
Pacific
TF 38 (Vice Admiral John S. McCain) planes attack Kanoya Airfield, Kyushu, Japan.

TG 74.3 (Rear Admiral Russell S. Berkey) bombards Japanese positions in preparation for the landings at Brunei Bay, covering the reconnaissance parties ashore; bombardment is repeated on 9 June (see 7 June). During sweeping operations in Brunei Bay, minesweeper Salute (AM-294) is sunk by mine, 05°08'N, 115°05'E.

As fighting continues on Okinawa, Hospital Apprentice First Class Fred F. Lester, serving with a rifle platoon, sees a wounded marine beyond the front lines. As he advances under heavy fire, Lester is hit and severely wounded. He attempts unaided to drag the wounded marine to safety, but is hit again. Although paralyzed on his right side, Lester succeeds in dragging the marine to cover. Realizing he has been mortally wounded, the corpsman, spurning medical attention for himself, directs marines to treat the casualty he had brought to safety, thus saving that man's life. Lester devotes his last efforts to directing the treatment of two other wounded marines before he dies. For his courage "above and beyond the call of duty," Lester is awarded the Medal of Honor, posthumously.

British submarine HMS Trenchant torpedoes and sinks Japanese heavy cruiser Ashigara 14 nautical miles west-southwest of Muntok, in northern entrance of Bangka Straits, 02°00'S, 104°56'E.

Submarine Cobia (SS-245) sinks Japanese transport Hakusa and tanker No.22 Nanshin Maru off southern French Indochina, 08°56'N, 105°37'E.

Japanese submarine tender Chogei is damaged by mine, 1.6 kilometers southwest of Bakuchizaki.

Japanese merchant cargo ship Ojima Maru is damaged by aircraft, between Ainoura and Tainosaki.

USAAF B-24s bomb Japanese shipping near Bandjermasin, sinking Shuttle Boat No.466 and damaging Shuttle Boat No. 423 near mouth of Barita River.