Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Army Air Service

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant (Air Service)

    Batallion:

    99th Aero Squadron

    Division:

    American Expeditionary Forces

    Action Date:

    September 13, 1918

    War Department, General Orders No. 123 (1918)

    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 First Lieutenant (Air Service) Clarence Courtney Kahle, United States Army Air Service, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 99th Aero Squadron, U.S. Army Air Service, A.E.F., near Lachaussee, France, 13 September 1918. First Lieutenant Kahle, with First Lieutenant Raymond C. Hill, observer, was directed to take photographs of the old Hindenburg Line. They were accompanied by two protecting planes. After they had taken some photographs the protecting planes were driven off by hostile aircraft, but he and his observer continued their mission alone, until in the vicinity of Lachaussee they were attacked by an enemy formation of nine planes. Lieutenant Kahle put up a gallant fight, in which his observer was shot through the heart and killed. Although pitted against overwhelming odds, Lieutenant Kahle, by his pluck, determination, skill, and courage, brought the photographs and the plane back to his airdrome, the enemy keeping up a constant attack upon him back to our lines, riddling the plane with machine-gun bullets. Lieutenant Kahle was killed in action, October, 2, 1918.