From: artkramr@a

Ya mean all you gotta do is get hit by fighters and you get a SIlver Star???
Where the hell is mine?

As luck would have it, the B-26 LBJ was on aborted before reaching the target
and being engaged by Zeros. So the citation for the SS is misleading. It's not
the only such citation that is not entirely accurate.
Johnson had joined Lt. Col. Francis Stevens and Col. Samuel Anderson, both on
George C. Marshall's staff and sent by him to review the situation in New
Guinea. The B-26 Stevens was on was shot down and all aboard killed. Anderson
made it back and reported to MacArthur personally, accompanied by Johnson.
MacA awarded both men Silver Stars and awarded Stevens the DSC posthumously.
Objectively, I suppose none of the men deserved medals. Apparently none of the
B-26 crew members received medals for the mission.
Interestingly, in Harold Ickes diary, he writes of this episode that MacArthur
offered Johnson the medal but that Johnson declined. Only some time later did
Johnson receive the citation and medal in the mail. Of course, throughout his
career Johnson never missed an opportunity to wear the Silver Star pin in his
lapel.


Chris Mark