Ilion High School - Class of 1936

Herkimer Evening Telegram - March 29, 1945

Posthumous DSC Presented Slain Ilion Officer's Wife

Article 12

Photo Caption - KILLED IN LUZON - S/Sgt. Vernon B. Morris, 28, radio gunner on a B-25, lost his life Mar. 6, while in combat On Luzon, his wife, Mrs. Mary G. Morris, 3 W. Main St., Ilion, learned this week.

Posthumous DSC Presented Slain Ilion Officer's Wife

Ilion - The first Distinguished Service Cross awarded an Ilion soldier in World War II was presented yesterday to Mrs. Mary Jane Space Bleau, widow of Lt. Kenneth Bleau who received the posthumous honor for heroic action in the Normandy invasion

Maj. Gen. Sweat made the presentation at ceremonies in the Syracuse Army headquarters while the slain lieutenant's mother, Mrs. Bessie Bleau, 7 Charles St., and his wife's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Clarence E. Space, Clinton, looked on.

The citation accompanying the medal read:

"For extraordinary heroism in action against the enemy on June 6, 1944 in ... 2nd Lt. Bleau, with complete disregard of his own safety, personally reconnoitered a path through an intricate and dense mine field under heavy artillery, mortar and small arms fire.

"He then led his men through the gap to a German dominated ridge. When his unit was completely surrounded on the ridge by enemy riflemen, and two hostile machine guns fired at point blank range threatening to annihilate his company, 2nd Lt. Bleau crawled forward to within 20 yards of one of the weapons and destroyed the gun and crew with hand grenades.

"He then fearlessly charged the second emplacement and knocked it out of action. Later during two hostile counter attacks, 2nd Lt. Bleau engaged the enemy in violent hand to hand combat, personally killing five Germans and wounding many others.

"By his heroic achievement, exemplary bravery, and devotion to duty, 2nd Lt. Bleau acted in keeping with the highest traditions of the armed forces."

The infantry officer, who was killed in action Aug. 1, 1944, previously received a Presidential citation for "do-or-die" action in the Normandy invasion when he and two soldiers killed 100 Germans.

In this enemy encounter, Bleau and 13 men grimly held a courtyard which the Germans repeatedly tried to storm. Their defense was credited with saving Colleville, but just before going off duty near the end of the action, Bleau was wounded in the ear and received the Purple Heart.

The officer was graduated from Ilion High School and studied physical education for two years at the University of Alabama where he was diving champion and1 an outstanding swimmer. He was employed in Remington Rand Plant 2 at the time of his enlistment in February, 1941.

After several months in the Air Force, he was transferred to Officer Candidate School and was commissioned in October, 1942, at Ft. Benning, Ga. He then traineed with ski troops at Camp McCoy, Wis., and was shipped overseas in May, 1943