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) Willis Alcott Diekema, United States Army Air Service, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 91st Aero Squadron, U.S. Army Air Service, A.E.F., in the region of Metz, France, 15 September 1918. While on a photographic mission Lieutenant Diekema’s formation was attacked by a superior number of enemy aircraft. In the course of the combat Lieutenant Diekema’s companion planes were driven off. Disregarding the fact that his machine was without protection, he continued on his mission until his observer, Lieutenant Hammond, had completed the photographs. On the return they fought their way through an enemy patrol and destroyed one of the machines.