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) Harmon Chadbourn Rorison, United States Army Air Service, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 22d Aero Squadron, 2d Pursuit Group, U.S. Army Air Service, A.E.F., near Beaumont, France, 3 November 1918. While on a bombing mission with five other pilots, Lieutenant Rorison’s patrol was attacked by 18 enemy planes (Fokker type). Three of his comrades were immediately shot down, but he continued in the fight for 30 minutes and destroyed two Fokkers, which were attacking the other two members of his patrol. With his plane badly damaged and himself wounded, he succeeded in shooting down another Fokker just before one of his guns was put out of action. By skillfully maneuvering he shook off the rest of the Fokkers and reached his lines, 15 miles, away, in safety.