The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal Herbert W. Triplett (ASN: 1301122), 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. Without an alert being sounded, the field was strafed by three flights of enemy Zero fighters, both airplanes being set afire. Though the enemy planes were still overhead and were circling the field for another attack, Corporal Triplett, with utter disregard for his own life, immediately took the crash truck to the burning planes. The P-39 was destroyed but he succeeded in extinguishing the fire in the B-25, before it was badly damaged. His devotion to duty and his courage in the face of enemy opposition are worthy of the highest commendation.