Walden presents Congressional Gold Medal to Bend man

Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., presented the Congressional Gold Medal to a Bend man on Monday in honor of his late father, a B-24 bomber co-pilot during World War II who served in the Office of Strategic Services, the predecessor to the CIA.

Second Lt. William Bartholomew’s eldest son, William Bartholomew Jr., of Bend, received the medal on his father’s behalf, accompanied by his mother, Mary Bartholomew, 92, of Lake Oswego, and the couple’s younger son, Brian Bartholomew.

Bartholmew flew missions as a member of the 801st/492nd Bombardment Group, the air arm of the OSS.

Last year, Congress bestowed its highest civilian honor, the Congressional Gold Medal, upon those who served in the OSS.

William Bartholomew Jr. will be taking a 27-day tour of the journey his father took around Europe.

Mary Bartholomew brought to the medal ceremony several historical items from the time her husband served.