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 First Lieutenant (Air Service) Penrose Vass Stout, United States Army Air Service, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 27th Aero Squadron, 1st Pursuit Group, U.S. Army Air Service, A.E.F., near Charnay, France, 28 September 1918. While engaged in a solitary patrol of the enemy lines Lieutenant Stout attacked an artillery regulating machine. He was almost immediately attacked by five enemy planes, and subjected to infantry and anti-aircraft fire, but fearlessly continued the unequal fight until his machine guns were broken and he was shot through the shoulder and lung.