The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Second Lieutenant (Air Corps) Earl Hagert Wilson (ASN: 0-729384), United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-38 Lightning Fighter airplane of the 97th Fighter Squadron, 82d Fighter Group, TWELFTH Air Force, in aerial operations in the North Africa Theater of Operations, on 5 January 1943. On that date, the airfield was bombed by enemy aircraft. Fires were started in a gasoline and ammunition dump which lighted the entire area making aircraft visible for probable later raids. With disregard for his own safety, Lieutenant Wilson scattered piles of exploding ammunition and extinguished the fires with dirt. He then proceeded to shoot holes in the bottoms of gasoline containers thus spreading the gasoline on the ground where it was extinguished by dirt. The courage and skill displayed by Lieutenant Wilson contributed greatly to the safety of personnel, airplanes, and airfield installations. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Second Lieutenant Wilson, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army Air Forces.