The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Frank Parisi (ASN: 12020037), United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action while serving with the 36th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group, FIFTH Air Force, in action at Port Moresby, New Guinea, on 9 May 1942. While its crew was preparing a B-25 for take-off, a P-39 aircraft stopped near the bomber because of sudden engine failure. A flight of enemy Zero fighters approached the field without warning and began to strafe the two planes, both of which immediately caught fire. The pilot of the P-39 and two crew members of the B-25 were able to leave their planes, but three bomber crew members were still inside the craft. Despite the fact that three flights of enemy Zero fighters had by this time reached the airdrome and were circling for another attack, which was broken up by our fighters, Private Parisi, with complete disregard for his own life, immediately rushed to the aid of the stricken crew members. His courage and devotion to duty in the face of enemy fire are in accord with the highest standards of the Army Air Forces.