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) Carl H. Reistad (ASN: 0-755429), United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action against the enemy while serving as Pilot of an A-20 Havoc Bomber of the 410th Bombardment Group (Light), NINTH Air Force, in aerial operations over France, on 27 August 1944. First Lieutenant Reistad gave his life so that two crew members of his A-20 attack bomber could bail out after his plane was struck by flak over heavily defended enemy territory. First Lieutenant Reistad’s aircraft engaged in an attack of an ammunition depot in France and braved heavy anti-aircraft fire to score excellent results with his bombs. As he returned from the mission over France, his plane, already damaged by flak, was hit again by heavy ground fire so that it was in a badly crippled state. First Lieutenant Reistad stayed at the controls and ordered his two crew members to bail out. They did, but it was then too late for the Lieutenant Reistad to leave the plane and observers noticed that the bomber lost altitude fast and while trying to follow the formation was lost from sight due to a thick haze. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by First Lieutenant Reistad, 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.