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 Staff Sergeant John Eugene Monti (ASN: 33435098), United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action against the enemy while serving as Flight Engineer and Top Turret Gunner of a B-24 Liberator Bomber of the 370th Bombardment Squadron, 307th Bombardment Group (Heavy), THIRTEENTH Air Force, in aerial operations in the Southwest Pacific Theater of Operations, on or about 4 October 1944. Staff Sergeant Monti’s Liberator Bomber took part in the second mass daylight raid against a heavily defended Japanese oil refining center. Carrying the maximum bomb and fuel load, and with their ammunition supply cut in half, they flew a record distance of more than 2,500 miles over water without fighter escort into an area where strong enemy resistance was inevitable. Flying through heavy anti aircraft fire, his airplane was hit by a shell and a large fragment ripped through his hip and leg. In spite of the critical wound and the intense pain, Staff Sergeant Monti placed himself in a position from which he could observe enemy interceptors and continued calling out their positions as they pressed their unrelenting attacks upon the bomber formation. When it became evident that the damaged bomber would have difficulty in returning, he calmly called attention to the heavy equipment which should be jettisoned and thus aided in bringing the airplane to an emergency base. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Staff Sergeant Monti, 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.