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) Harris Earls Petree, United States Army Air Service, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 139th Aero Squadron, 4th Pursuit Group, U.S. Army Air Service, A.E.F., near Marville, France, 26 September 1918. After having become separated from his patrol, Lieutenant Petree encountered seven enemy planes. He alone attacked this enemy group and continued in combat against these great odds for over one hour, when he was killed.