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) Louis Charles Simon, Jr., United States Army Air Service, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 147th Aero Squadron, 1st Pursuit Group, U.S. Army Air Service, A.E.F., in the region of Hadonville-les-La-Chausse, France, 16 September 1918. While on a protection patrol for American observation planes from the 99th Aero Squadron, Lieutenant Simon was fired upon by three Halberstadt biplane fighters. Regardless of his personal danger, he immediately engaged the enemy, although alone, drawing them down and away from the observation planes which continued their important work unmolested. Lieutenant Simon continued fighting the three Halberstadts fiercely in spite of the odds against him. He finally succeeded in getting on the tail of one; and, after firing a short burst at close range, the enemy plane fell out of control. The remaining two planes quickly broke off the combat and headed east with motors full on.