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Lot 3666    SESSION 8 (2.00PM THURSDAY 30TH JULY)    Other Countries

Estimate $2,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $1,350

USA, GROUP OF NINE TO HEROIC OFFICER: Silver Star with oak leaf cluster, edge numbered, 89347; Bronze Star; Purple Heart with oak leaf cluster, edge numbered 295727; American Defense Medal; European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal; Victory Medal 1945; Army of Occupation Medal, -clasp - Germany; National Defense Service Medal; Armed Forces Reserve Medal. Good very fine - extremely fine.

Ex Dix Noonan Webb Sale 10-11 Dec 2014 (lot 299).

Together with the following.
1. A Carnegie Hero Fund Medal, reverse with inscription in relief, 'Willwayne Dare Fraizer/Who Saved/Richard L.Sanden/From Drowning/Levant, N.Y./December 28, 1933', housed in a J.E.Caldwell & Co., Philadelphia fitted green leather case of issue.
2. Combat Infantryman Badge.
3. 133rd Infantry Regiment 'Avauncez' (Advance) metal badge; also a 34th Infantry Division embroidered shoulder badge (the 133rd Infantry Regiment was part of the 67th Brigade of the 34th Infantry Division); and four Overseas service chevrons embroidered badge.
4. Unofficial 5th Army Liberation of Naples commemorative medal.
5. American Legion items including lapel badge, a silver baseball medal with ribbon and a gilt basketball 'Sportsmanship' medal.
6. Booklet, 'My Part in the 2nd World War' - containing the recipient's hand-written notes, newspaper cuttings, citations and photographs - this providing much valuable service and biographical details.
7. Original commission document for appointment as Reserve Commissioned Officer at rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, 1959; certificate of appreciation on retirement, 1961; full service records and other papers including a graduate diploma from the Army Arctic Indoctrination School in 1951.
8. History of 133rd Infantry, 34th Infantry Division 1941-1945 (over 200pp).

Carnegie Hero Fund Medal citation: Willwayne Dare Fraizer saved Richard L.Sanden from drowning, Levant, New York, December 28, 1933. While skating on Cassadaga Creek, Richard, 14, broke through thin ice at a point 30 feet from the bank, where the water was 10 feet deep. Willwayne, 13, schoolboy, who was heavily clothed, skated to within two feet of the hole. As he knelt and reached toward Richard, the ice broke under him, and he was briefly submerged in the hole, which then was seven feet in diameter. Willwayne rested one arm on the ice, reached under the edge of it, and pulled Richard to the open water. After losing his hold, he again took hold of Richard but was unable to raise Richard's head above the water. He held Richard for five minutes until a man, who was a good swimmer, crawled on his stomach on the ice to a point three feet from the hole and tied a rope around Willwayne's wrist. Men near the bank pulled on the rope, and when Willwayne was on the ice to his shoulders, the man pulled Richard out of the water. The three then were drawn to the bank by means of a rope. Richard was unconscious but was revived.

Silver Star for bravery in action at San Leonardo, Italy during October 1943: Citation - 'While his company was engaged in a bitter attack on enemy positions, Lt. Fraizer was ordered to return to the command post and bring forward a fresh supply of ammunition. Lt. Fraizer's mission necessitated his crossing twice two hundred yards of open terrain which was being swept by heavy enemy machine gun fire, but he performed it unhesitatingly, oblivious of his own personal safety. When observing three badly wounded men in need of immediate medical attention, he further exposed himself to intense hostile fire to assist in evacuating them to a place of safety. Lt. Fraizer's exemplary leadership in the face of grave danger was an inspiration to his comrades and a credit to the Armed Forces of the United States.'

Oak Leaf cluster to Silver Star: Citation - 'For gallantry in action, from 1 to 9 February 1944, at Cassino, Italy. Captain Fraizer's company was assigned the sector along a road leading through enemy held barracks during an attack on Cassino. During the assault on the barracks, his company was fired upon by self-propelled and anti-tank weapons, as well as small arms and mortar fire. Captain Fraizer moved to the front of his company and led his men as they forced their way through strong enemy defenses into the barracks. During the next phase of the attack Captain Fraizer co-ordinated his supporting tanks with the infantry advance in reducing enemy bunkers and pillboxes to take the objective. The last phase of the attack was an advance of four hundred yards across open terrain into the town of Cassino. Before reaching the objective, Captain Fraizer was hit in the leg by a rock from a shell explosion. Refusing to leave the fight, he followed his company into the town where the final objective was taken. Disregarding his wound, Captain Fraizer moved from platoon to platoon and organized his men for the defense. For six days he remained with his company and led his men in repelling numerous strong counterattacks, until he received a severe wound which necessitated his evacuation. Captain Fraizer's courageous and inspiring leadership was responsible for the success of his company's attack.'

Bronze Star: Executive Order 9419, 4 February 1944, Citation - For exemplary conduct in ground combat against the armed enemy during the Rome-Arno Campaign in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations.


Willwayne 'Wayne' Dare Fraizer was born on 9 March 1921 at Jamestown, Chautauqua, New York State, the son of an Albanian immigrant and a US mother. At 13 years of age, as a Falconer High School Freshman, he was awarded the Carnegie Hero Fund Medal in December 1933 for rescuing Richard Sanden (see citation above). As part of the award he also received funding for a four-year university course but was unable to take advantage of that as he was called up for WWII active duty with the 174th Infantry, shortly after his graduation in 1940. In August 1942 he graduated from the Officer's Training School at Fort Benning. He embarked for service overseas and in early 1943 was promoted to First Lieutenant while serving in North Africa.

As a First Lieutenant serving with the 133rd Infantry, Fraizer was awarded the Silver Star for his bravery in action at San Leonardo, Italy during October 1943. In the course of this action, Fraizer was wounded and hospitalised and was awarded the Purple Heart. Then as a Captain he was awarded oak leaf clusters to his Silver Star and Purple Heart for gallantry in action at Cassino, Italy during February 1944 where he was once again wounded.

Captain Fraizer noted: 'Was hit by a German sniper in Cassino, Italy on Feb. 8-1944 about three o'clock in the afternoon - Bullet broke my leg and necessitated in losing considerable muscle off the calf of my leg'. After being discharged from hospital, he was posted to Anzio as a Training Officer, before returning 'stateside' later in the year. Post war he continued to serve in the Army Reserve and was promoted to Major in November 1950 and Lieutenant-Colonel in August 1959. He retired from the Army Reserve in June 1961.

With research.