Southwest Pacific Area
                      Office of the Commanding General
                      June 20, 1944

                      Dear Mrs. Bertram:
                      Recently your son, Lieutenant Martin Bertram, was decorated with the Air Medal.  It was an award
                      made in recognition of courageous service to his combat organization, his fellow American
                      Airmen, his country, his home, and to you.  He was cited for meritorious achievement while
                      participating in an arial fight northwest of New Hanover Island.
                      Your son was a pilot of an aircraft in a formation engaged in an attack against an enemy
                      convoy.  His plane made a bombing run on a large freighter, setting the vessel on fire by strafing
                      and plunging two 500 pound bombs against it's bow.  As the plane passed over the ship,
                       an anti-aircraft shell burst into the bomb bay, completely destroying the hydraulic system.  The
                       crew nevertheless made another run and scored two near misses, leaving the vessel enveloped
                        in flames and sinking fast.
                       Almost every hour of every day your son, and the sons of other American mothers, are doing
                       just such things as that here in the Southwest Pacific.  Theirs is a very real and very tangible
                       contribution to victory and to peace.
                       I would like to tell you how genuinely proud I am to have men such as your son in my command, and
                       how gratified I am to know that young Americans with such courage and resourcefulness are
                       fighting our country's battle against the aggressor nations.
                       You, Mrs. Bertram, have every reason to share that pride and gratification.

                        Very Sincerely,
                        GEORGE C. KENNEY
                         Lieutenant General
                         Commanding.

                          1st Lieutenant Martin Bertram served as a pilot in USAAF fighters and bombers in the 5th
                          Air Force under General George Kenney, based first in Australia, then later in New Guinea.
                          he planes he flew on his 47 combat missions included the P-41 Tomahawk, A-20 attack
                          bomber, P-38 Lightning Twin Engine Fighter, and the B-25 Mitchell medium bomber.  The
                          missions he flew were primarily tactical air to sea and air to land missions, strafing and bombing
                          Japanese airfields, bases, and ships.
                          He was shot down twice by ship based anti-aircraft fire.  After his second downing, he was not
                          permitted back into combat because of the seriousness of his wounds but continued to serve as a
                          pilot testing repaired aircraft in the rear areas and as an Air Staff Liaison officer.
                          He was awarded the Purple Heart twice, the air Medal 3 times, and the Bronze Star 3 times
                          for actions over New Guinea, Northern Soloman Islands, and campaign of the Bismarck Archipelago.
                          He was also awarded The Distinguished Flying Cross, The Southern Philippines Battle star, The Philippine
                          Liberation Ribbon with one Bronze Star, The American Theater Ribbon, a Presidential Unit Citation, and
                          the Asiatic Pacific Ribbon.
                          Promoted to captain sometime in the confusion of war, he never received his orders and never
                          wore the rank of captain.  He was offered the opportunity to serve in the Korean Conflict
                          as a Major, but declined.