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 (Air Corps), [then Second Lieutenant] William H. Rierson (ASN: 0-754549), 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 79th Fighter Squadron, 20th Fighter Group, EIGHTH Air Force, in aerial operations in the European Theater of Operations, on 8 December 1944. While flying in escort of a heavy bomber formation over Aachen, Germany, First Lieutenant Rierson distinguished himself by heroic action by his determination to destroy a numerically superior enemy. Following an attack by two ME-109 aircraft, which set one of his engines on fire and inflicted severe wounds to his left arm and leg, Lieutenant Rierson continued a vicious onslaught against four enemy fighters which dove at him from above. Separated from the other members of his flight and disregarding the pain from his wounds, he maneuvered to an attack which destroyed one ME-109 and severely damaged another. Finally, with his electrical system out, his left engine on fire, and his cockpit in flames, he was forced to jettison his canopy and ball out. First Lieutenant Rierson’s gallant acts reflect great credit on himself and are in keeping with the finest traditions of the military service.