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 Sergeant Etienne Houroux, French Air Service, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving as Pilot, 284th Escadrille, French Air Service, 2d Army Corps, A.E.F. (Attached), near Dun-sur-Meuse, France, 30 October 1918. While engaged in a visual reconnaissance Sergeant Houroux accepted combat with four enemy planes, who attacked him with the object of forcing him to abandon his mission. Although he was himself seriously wounded, he sustained the unequal fight until his observer was killed by the fire of the attacking aircraft. When no further defense was left to him, he made a successful retreat into the allied lines and landed safely. Suffering severely from his wound and too weak to leave the pilot’s seat without assistance, he insisted that his observer be cared for before permitting anyone to aid him.