The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to First Lieutenant (Air Service) William F. Frank, United States Army Air Service, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 27th Aero Squadron, 1st Pursuit Group, U.S. Army Air Service, A.E.F., near Buzancy, France, 23 October 1918. While flying in the rear of a formation, returning from a bombing raid, Lieutenant Frank’s machine was attacked by three hostile planes (Fokker type). Lieutenant Frank was wounded and rendered unconscious early in the encounter, but upon recovering he shot down a Fokker which was attacking the leader of the formation and drove off two others which were pressing him from the side.