The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Colonel (Air Corps) Morris Frederick Taber (ASN: 0-21063), United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action against the enemy while serving as Command Pilot of a B-25 Mitchell Bomber in the 341st Bombardment Group (Medium), FOURTEENTH Air Force, in aerial operations in the China-Burma-India Theater of Operations, on 24 October 1943. Colonel Taber displayed outstanding gallantry in action while leading four medium bombardment planes in a low level bombing mission on Klungsha Harbor, Hainan Islands. The success of this four-plane attack was dependent largely upon surprise elements and after the attack to retire quickly. On reaching the target and making a bombing run on a freighter, Colonel Taber noted the presence of unexpected fighter planes taking off from a nearby field. Instead of withdrawing after surprise had failed, he immediately left the harbor to attack these planes and at the same time tried to radio other planes to help strafe them before take-off could be effected. After destroying one twin-engine fighter, Colonel Taber employed fighter tactics which resulted in another enemy plane probably being shot down. Yet another pass was made on a flight of three hostile planes during which a well-equipped radio station and boated were fired upon. At this point he tried to disengage the fighters. He then made a run on a tender in the harbor despite being trailed by Zeros. After eluding these planes, he picked up a wing man and continued his attack on a freighter at Fort Bayard, China. His decision to remain in the target area in the presence of enemy interception in order to destroy as much equipment as possible when he could have withdrawn from the fight was courage in the highest degree. His actions in aggressively attacking the enemy despite obvious dangers constituted gallantry in keeping with the fine traditions of the United States Army Air Force.