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) Stirling Campbell Alexander, United States Army Air Service, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 99th Aero Squadron, U.S. Army Air Service, A.E.F., in the region of Landres-et-St. Georges, France, 6 October 1918. Lieutenant Alexander, with Lieutenant Atwater, observer, on a photographic mission, was forced back by seven enemy pursuit planes. A few minutes later he returned over the lines, and while deep in enemy territory was cut off by 12 enemy planes (Pfalz Scouts). He maneuvered his plane to give battle, and so effectively managed the machine that he with his observer was able to destroy one, and forced the others to withdraw. With his observer severely wounded, he managed to bring his plane safely back to his own aerodrome, with his mission completed.