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 Second Lieutenant (Air Service) Gerald Provost Thomas, United States Army Air Service, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 17th Aero Squadron, 4th Pursuit Group, U.S. Army Air Service, A.E.F., near Cambrai, France, 22 September 1918. When ten enemy planes of his group were attacked by a superior number of the enemy, Lieutenant Thomas refused to seek safety in flight, but attacked a superior number of the enemy in order to assist another member of his squadron to escape. In the performance of this act he was shot down and killed by the enemy.