The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to Captain (Medical Corps) Bruce Hardy Bennett (ASN: 0-368285), United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action while serving as a Medical Officer with the 36th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group, FIFTH Air Force, in action at Port Moresby, New Guinea, on 9 May 1942. White its crew was preparing a B-25 for take-off, a P-39 aircraft stopped near the bomber because of sudden engine failure. A flight of enemy Zero fighters approached the field without warning and began to strafe the two planes, both of which immediately caught fire. The Pilot of the P-39 and two crew members of the B-25 were able to leave their planes, but three bomber crew members were still inside the craft. Despite the fact that three flights of enemy Zero fighters had, by this time, reached the airdrome and were circling for another attack, which was broken up by our fighters, Captain Bennett, with complete disregard for his own life, immediately rushed to the aid of the stricken crew members. His courage and devotion to duty in the face of enemy fire are in accord with the highest standards of the Army Air Corps.

(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: 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 (Medical Corps) Bruce Hardy Bennett (ASN: 0-368285), United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action against the enemy while serving as a Medical Officer in the 36th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group, FIFTH Air Force, in aerial operations in the Southwest Pacific Theater of Operations, in 1942. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, 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.