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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) Howard Tebbe Fleeson, United States Army Air Service, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 12th Aero Squadron, U.S. Army Air Service, A.E.F., in the St. Mihiel salient, France, 12 September 1918. Second Lieutenant Fleeson and Second Lieutenant Dogan H. Arthur, pilot, executed a difficult mission of infantry contact patrol, without protection of accompanying battle planes, on the first day of the St. Mihiel offensive. After being driven back twice by a patrol of 9 enemy planes, they courageously made a third attempt in the face of a third attack by the same planes, found the American lines, and after being shot down, but falling uninjured in friendly territory, communicated their valuable information to headquarters.

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Army Air Service

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant (Air Service)

    Batallion:

    12th Aero Squadron

    Division:

    American Expeditionary Forces

    Action Date:

    October 30, 1918
    War Department, General Orders No. 27 (1919)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Service Cross to First Lieutenant (Air Service) Howard T. Fleeson, United States Army Air Service, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 12th Aero Squadron, U.S. Army Air Service, A.E.F., near Buzancy, France, 30 October 1918. Lieutenant Fleeson accompanied a formation of nine planes on a photographic mission in German territory; six planes turned back before reaching the enemy line, and the remaining three were attacked by 18 Fokker type planes when they had penetrated 12 kilometers into the enemy country. After his two companions, whom he tried to assist, were shot down, Lieutenant Fleeson fought his way back to his own lines, destroying two enemy planes in the combat.