John M. Thacker

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to John M. Thacker, Second Lieutenant (Air Corps), U.S. Army Air Force, for gallantry in action as a Pilot of the 46th Pursuit Squadron, 15th Pursuit Group, over the Island of Oahu, Territory of Hawaii, and waters adjacent thereto, on 7 December 1941. When surprised by a heavy air attack by Japanese forces on Wheeler Field and vicinity at approximately 8 a.m., Second Lieutenant Thacker proceeded by automobile to the hangar line where he joined a flight of pursuit aircraft which took off from Wheeler Field for the purpose of attacking the invading forces, without first obtaining information as to the number or type of Japanese in the attacking forces. The flight encountered an enemy formation of six aircraft in the vicinity of Bellows Field, and though the enemy force was numerically superior, Lieutenant Thacker and other members of the flight immediately attacked the enemy formation. He remained in the attack until after his guns became jammed. Lieutenant Thacker returned his plane safely to Wheeler Field though it had been hit by cannon fire during the encounter. Lieutenant Thacker’s initiative, presence of mind, coolness under fire against overwhelming odds in this first battle, expert maneuvering of his plane, and determined action contributed to a large extent toward driving off this sudden enemy air attack.

Authority: “Heroes of Pearl Harbor”, Donald K. & Helen L. Ross