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) Alfred Alexander Grant, 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 Chateau-Thierry, France, on 2 July 1918. With several other officers, Lieutenant Grant encountered an enemy patrol of nine planes. During the combat he became slightly separated from the other American machines and was attacked by three of the enemy. By skillful maneuvering and good marksmanship he destroyed one machine and drove off the other two.