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 Second Lieutenant (Air Service) Thomas J. Abernethy, United States Army Air Service, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 147th Aero Squadron, 1st Pursuit Group, U.S. Army Air Service, A.E.F., near Vourbin, France, 15 July 1918. Lieutenant Abernathy, while on patrol duty, attacked an enemy plane at close range, firing 100 rounds at a distance of from 50 to 200 yards. He followed the German ship down and saw it fall out of control, and as he turned he found five enemy planes diving at him. Without hesitation he took the offensive and fired 200 rounds into enemy ships at not more than 15 to 20 yards. He observed tracer bullets entering the bodies of the enemy aircraft, but owing to the violence of the combat he did not have time to observe whether any of his force were shot down. Fighting vigorously, he succeeded in dispersing the enemy ships and making a safe landing within his own lines, although his own engine and plane was almost shot to pieces.