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 Second Lieutenant (Air Service) Earl William Porter, United States Army Air Service, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 7th Aviation Instruction Center, French Army (Attached), U.S. Army Air Service, A.E.F., near Lassigny, France, 9 August 1918. Second Lieutenant Porter, with First Lieutenant Charles Raymond Blake, pilot, while on a reconnaissance expedition at a low altitude and beyond the enemy lines, was attacked by five German battle planes. Although wounded at the beginning of the combat, he shot down one of the enemy machines and by cool and courageous operation of his gun, while his pilot skillfully maneuvered the plane, fought off the others and made possible a safe return to friendly territory.