Gallantry in Action. Sergeant George E. Larkin, Jr., a native of Colesburg, Hardin Co., took part in Doolittle's raid on Japanese mainland, April 18, 1942. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and decorated by the Chinese government; won award for being first Kentuckian to bomb enemy capital. Famous raid boosted American morale. Six months later, the 23-year-old was killed in Asia.