The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain (Air Corps) Ralph D. Matthews (ASN: 0-406419), 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 18th Fighter Squadron, 343d Fighter Group, ELEVENTH Air Force, in aerial operations in the Territory of Alaska, on 26 December 1942. Leading his formation of twin-engine fighters on an attack against Japanese fighter planes reported at Holtz Bay, Captain Matthews found no enemy planes either in the air or on the water. Although it was not an assigned mission, he led two ground level attacks strafing the anti-aircraft emplacements on the shore in the face of concentrated fire. On the second pass he was shot down and crashed in the water. His aggressive spirit and gallant action is in the highest tradition of the Army Air Force.