Military Matters: Pvt. John B. Smith Wins Cheney Award, 1932, Winn Parish, LA
Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483
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From: January 21, 1932 Winn Parish Enterprise

Winn Parish Man Honored For Bravery

Outstanding Valor of John B. Smith Wins Cheney Award for 1932

Washington, January 20

For his heroism in rescuing a pilot from a burning airplane, which crashed
last year at Fort Crockett, Pvt. John B. Smith of Winnfield, La., has been
given the Cheney Award for 1932 for the outstanding act of valor and self-
sacrifice in the army air corps.  Private Smith, then a member of the 90th
Attack Squadron at the Texas field, was working in the target supply house
when he observed a low flying airplane approaching the building.

Warns His Comrades

Calling a warning to his fellow soldiers, he escaped from the building as the
plane crashed into it and fell to the ground in flames.  Although dazed and
injured by the flying debris, Private Smith went to the pilot's rescue. 
Finding the foot of the unconscious airman jammed in the rudder, Smith crawled
into the cockpit and unfastened the shoe although the pilot's clothes were
already ablaze.

Rescue Burned Pilot

The soldier and one of his companions then lifted the still form of the pilot
form the wreckage.  For this act, Private Smith was awarded the soldier's
medal last July.  Besides the Cheney plaque and citation, he will be given a
substantial cash award.  Private Smith is now stationed at Fort Benning, Ga. 
Because the Cheney judges were unable to decided between the act of heroism of
the Louisianan and that of Lieutenant Robert D. Moor, who crashed to his death
in Michigan last summer rather than use his parachute and leave behind a
passenger injured in mid-air collision of two army planes, it was decided to
give both of them the award.  Lieutenant Moor's posthumous award will go to
his mother in Ohio.