(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: 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) John Emmett Hesselbarth (ASN: 0-403850), United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a B-25 Mitchell Bomber of the 90th Bombardment Squadron, 3d Bombardment Group (Light), FIFTH Air Force, in aerial operations on a Combat Mission over Lae Airfield, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea, in the Southwest Pacific Theater of Operations, on 25 May 1942. Over the target his B-25 was attacked by approximately fifteen Japanese Zeros for approximately twenty minutes. The Mitchell Bomber was last seen being engaged by two Zeros and losing altitude with both engines in flames. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Second Lieutenant Hesselbarth, 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.