The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Lieutenant Francois De Pavant, French Air Service, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving as Observer, 284th Escadrille, 3d Army Corps, A.E.F. (Attached), near Brieulles, France, 4 October 1918. While engaged in an infantry contact patrol Lieutenant De Pavant attacked six Fokker pursuit planes and valiantly drove them off, remaining in action until his plane was so badly damaged by fire that it was forced to land.