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) Thomas Dudley Harmon (ASN: 0-732545), United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action while serving with 373d Fighter Squadron, 360th Fighter Group, 14th Air Force, in action against the enemy in the China-Burma-India Theater of Operations, on 30 October 1943. First Lieutenant Harmon was pilot of a fighter airplane, one of four planes acting as top cover for a dive-bombing mission to an important enemy base in China. The flight received a surprise attack from two waves of six Zeros each coming from opposite directions, of which the rear flight was sighted only by First Lieutenant Harmon. Oblivious of great personal danger, he alone attacked the six Zeros, scattering them and shooting down two. His plane was set fire by incendiary bullets and he was forced to parachute from it well inside enemy lines. First Lieutenant Harmon’s heroism by voluntary action in the face of great danger above and beyond the line of duty was in accordance with the fine traditions of the Army Air Forces.