The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Colonel (General Staff Corps) Samuel Egbert Anderson (ASN: 0-17244/92A), United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action in the vicinity of Port Moresby and Salamaua, New Guinea, on 9 June 1942. While on a mission of obtaining information in the Southwest Pacific Area, Colonel Anderson, in order to obtain personal knowledge of combat conditions, volunteered as an observer on a hazardous aerial combat mission over hostile positions in New Guinea. While on this mission, the four united States planes were intercepted by eight hostile fighters, and engaged them in combat. In spite of the enemy numerical superiority, the bombs were dropped on the target at Salamaua and our planes, after twenty-nine minutes of combat in which all planes were repeatedly hit, returned to their base. Throughout the combat, Colonel Anderson displayed coolness in spite of extreme danger. As a result of this gallant action he was able to obtain and bring back valuable information.






