The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Second Lieutenant (Air Service) Paul J. O’Donnell, United States Army Air Service, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 96th Aero Squadron, U.S. Army Air Service, A.E.F., near Dun-sur-Meuse, France, 26 September 1918. Second Lieutenant O’Donnell’s formation was attacked while flying to bomb Dun-sur-Meuse by seven enemy planes. With the first spurt of enemy fire he was fatally wounded. With, his last strength he opened a deliberate and destructive fire on one of the enemy planes, driving it down out of control. He died before his antagonist struck the ground.