The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Justus A. Emens (ASN: 0-427709), United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action against the enemy while serving Co-Pilot of a B-24D Bomber of the 514th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 376th Bombardment Group (Heavy), NINTH Air Force, in action against shipping and harbor installations in Tripoli. At dusk on 29 November 1942, a piece of shrapnel pierced the windshield and hit Lieutenant Emens on the head, while the glass fragments cut him about the face and left hand. This same burst severed the main oxygen line and shot out the radio and interphone. The bomb bay doors were torn off when the bombs were dropped, and due to the lack of oxygen a rapid descent was made immediately after the release of the bombs. As soon as the aircraft reached 12,000 feet Lieutenant Emens, though wounded himself, took the first aid kit and made his way across the open bomb bay to the rear of the aircraft to ascertain if anyone had been injured. The hand ropes were not connected, thus making it very dangerous for anyone in the rear to make his way forward against the turbulence of the air currents. When he reached the rear of the aircraft he found that the side gunner had been hit on the head by a piece of shrapnel and was in a dazed condition. He gave all possible aid to the side gunner and cautioned all men aft not to attempt to proceed forward due to the dangerous condition of the bomb bay. Lieutenant Emens then made his way back to his position as co-pilot on the flight deck. By his prompt and courageous action the lives of the men in the rear of the plane were probably saved as they had no knowledge of the loss of the bomb bay doors and might have attempted to come forward in the darkness later on. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by First Lieutenant Emens, 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.