(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Silver Star to First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Ealon S. Hocutt (ASN: 0-417631), United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action against the enemy while serving as a member of the Air Crew of a Bomber in the 23d Bombardment Squadron, 5th Bombardment Group (Heavy), THIRTEENTH Air Force, in aerial operations in the Southwest Pacific Theater of Operations, in 1943. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by First Lieutenant Hocutt, 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.

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 First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Ealon S. Hocutt (ASN: 0-417631), United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action against the enemy while serving as Co-Pilot of a B-17 Flying Fortress Bomber of the 403d Bombardment Squadron, 43d Bombardment Group (Heavy), FIFTH Air Force, in aerial operations over Rabaul Harbor, New Britain, in the Southwest Pacific Theater of Operations, on 20 November 1942. On that date First Lieutenant Hocutt’s bomber flew down over Rabaul for a look at the harbor when a flight of Zeroes was seen taking off from a nearby airdrome. Maneuvering the bomber into the clouds, they avoided contact and eluded 15 to 40 enemy Zeroes. Returning a long the coastline, they sighted a fresh flight of Zeros flushed from Buna. In the battle that followed at least two of the enemy Zeros were shot down in flames. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by First Lieutenant Hocutt, 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.