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 of Air Service Gustave P. A. Lagache, French Air Service, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving as Pilot, U.S. Air Service (Attached), near St. Mihiel, France, 24 September 1918. Captain Lagache brilliantly commanded the 101st French Squadron from September 7 – 15, 1918, while it was assigned to the American Army during the St. Mihiel offensive. In an encounter with a superior force of the enemy on September 24 he fearlessly attacked the group, and in the unequal combat which followed he persisted in the attack and succeeded in shooting down an enemy plane within our lines. This action took place while serving under American Command.