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) Richard D. Shelby, 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 Verdun, France, 10 October 1918. Lieutenant Shelby encountered six enemy planes at a very low altitude strafing our trenches. He immediately attacked and dispersed the enemy planes and by skillful maneuvering brought one of the planes down just behind his own lines.