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 Major (Air Service) Kenneth P. Littauer, United States Army Air Service, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 88th Aero Squadron, U.S. Army Air Service, A.E.F., near Conflans, France, 30 October 1918. Major Littauer volunteered on a mission to protect a photographic plane for another squadron on September 14 and continued toward the objective at Conflans even after three other protecting planes had failed to start. In an encounter with five enemy pursuit planes he completely protected the photographic plane by skillful maneuvering, although his observer was wounded and his machine seriously damaged. On 30 October while on duty as chief of air service of the 3d Army Corps, Major Littauer volunteered and made an important reconnaissance of enemy machine-gun emplacements at a low altitude near Doulcon.