"Lt. Gen. Frank M. Andrews, Commander in Chief of U.S. Army Forces in the Middle East, pinning the Silver Star on the chest of 2nd Lt. Theodore P. Deffner, Bombardier, of St. Louis, Mo. Preparing to release his bombs on a convoy in the Mediterranean, his aircraft was struck from fire by enemy fighter planes. The Co--pilot was seriously wounded and Lt Deffner was largely responsible for saving him from grave complications. He also manned a gun-post during the attack to help thwart further successful enemy action. The award was made on 11th Nov. 1942 at an advanced base somewhere in the Middle East."