>From scrapbook in possession of the Pierce County Historical Association (please note, I am just posting, I have NO further info on this family) Newspaper is possibly the Spring Valley Sun, date unknown. LT. ARY ARNESON DECORATED FOR ACTION OVER EUROPE. Lt. Ary C. Arneson, bombardier with the 8th Air Force operating out of England, was awarded the Air Medal on July 14 and six days later awarded an Oak Leaf Cluster for "meritorious achievement while participating in heavy bombardment missions." Ary wrote his folks, Mr. and Mrs. A.C. Arneson of Spring Valley, a brief note telling that he had received the medals and enclosing the official citations. Ary said "Put these with my papers. I will bring home the medals myself." The citation for both Air Medal and Oak Leaf Cluster came from the office of Major General Partridge and read-"for meritorious achievement while participating in heavy bombardment missions in the air offensive over Continental Europe. The courage, coolness and skill displayed by this officer upon these occasions reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States." And, as Ary wrote to a friend in Spring Valley, "coolness is just what they think we have." He has a piece of flack that missed his head by inches as a souvenir of these flights and two of his flying mates won the Purple Heart and are now in hospitals. Ary Arneson is the third Spring Valley boy to receive the Air Medal and the accompanying Oak Leaf Cluster given for the second and other times the Air Medal is won. First to win it was Eddie Wingert in Africa; second was Quentin Bailey, in the South Pacific, and now Ary in the European theater. Ary had participated on 16 bombing missions over what used to be Hitler's fortress Europe when he wrote the last of July. It is the terrific pounding given by these heavies that has paved the way for the victory sure to come.