The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant Mariano B. Inovejas, Philippine Army, for gallantry in action in the Philippine Islands on 2 February 1942. When the 11th Infantry Division, Philippine Army, was deployed along the Pilar-Bagac Road in Bataan, Lieutenant Inovejas, a platoon leader of Company A, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, was sent out in charge of an 11-man patrol to determine the strength and position of the enemy. Encountering a Japanese patrol of superior numbers, he led his men in attack and killed all of them, with no casualties to his own men. By his gallantry and leadership in combat, Lieutenant Inovejas aided in preventing the enemy from infiltrating into friendly lines and contributed much to the defense of Bataan.