(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Second Lieutenant (Air Corps) William Howard Stovall, Jr. (ASN: 0-716271), United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-47 Thunderbolt Fighter Airplane of the 62d Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group, EIGHTH Air Force, in aerial operations in the European Theater of Operations, on or about 31 December 1944. Second Lieutenant Stovall engaged 7 enemy aircraft over Burgsteinfurt, hitting at least two enemy aircraft before his own plane suffered severe battle damage and he was forced to bail out. He was too low at the time he bailed out, and his parachute did not deploy. He was killed when he hit the ground. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Second Lieutenant Stovall, 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.