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) David Chapin Beebe, United States Army Air Service, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 50th Aero Squadron, U.S. Army Air Service, A.E.F., near St. Mihiel, France, 13 September 1918. With Second Lieutenant Franklin D. Bellows, observer, Second Lieutenant Beebe executed a reconnaissance mission early in the morning of the second day of the St. Mihiel offensive in spite of the clouds, high wind, mist, flying at an altitude of only 300 meters and without protection of accompanying battle planes. Although subjected to severe fire from ground batteries, they penetrated 8 kilometers behind the German lines. His motor was badly damaged and his observer, Lieutenant Bellows, was mortally wounded. Despite these conditions he succeeded in bringing the disabled machine to his lines.