The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant Fred B. Bernard (ASN: 33279634), United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action while serving with the Far East Air Forces, In action near Tarakan, Borneo, Netherlands East Indies, on 8 April 1945. Sergeant Bernard was a radar operator-gunner in the crew of a Catalina aircraft dispatched to rescue the crew of a B-25 down in Japanese-controlled waters. When a P-38 pilot sighted a dinghy and led the rescue plane to the area, the Catalina had to fly within 200 yards of enemy guns. They set up an intense barrage of enemy anti-aircraft and machine-gun fire, badly damaging the Catalina and wounding Sergeant Bernard and another crew members. Although he was painfully wounded Sergeant Bernard remained at his guns to provide fire cover during the rescue and submitted to medical attention only after the rescued airmen had been made comfortable. The exceptional courage and devotion to duty displayed by Sergeant Bernard in disregarding his own suffering to insure the safety of others exemplify the highest traditions of the United States Army Air Forces.