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 Captain (Air Service) Christopher W. Ford, United States Army Air Service, for repeated acts of extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 103d Aero Squadron, 3d Pursuit Group, U.S. Army Air Service, A.E.F., near Reims, France, 27 March 1918, and near Armentieres, France, 21 May 1918. Near Reims on March 27 Captain Ford, while on a patrol with two other pilots, led his formation in an attack on eight enemy planes. After 20 minutes of fighting the American formation shot down three German machines, of which one was destroyed by this officer. Near Armentieres on 21 May he again led a patrol of six planes in attacking 20 enemy aircraft. The attack resulted in 10 individual combats. Captain Ford shot down one hostile plane and with his patrol, routed the others.