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 Gaston W. Callum (ASN: 0-667789), United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-47 Thunderbolt Fighter Airplane of the 79th Fighter-Bomber Group, TWELFTH Air Force, in aerial operations in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations in 1945. Despite shell fragments from intense and accurate anti-aircraft fire which heavily damaged his plane as he completed a successful bomb run over an enemy road bridge, Captain Callum quickly reformed his flight of P-47 and led repeated strafing attacks against a large fuel dump, destroying large quantities of vital fuel before breaking off and piloting his shattered plane safely back to base. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Captain Callum, 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.