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) Donald D. Warner, United States Army Air Service, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 96th Aero Squadron, U.S. Army Air Service, A.E.F., on 4 September 1918. While on a bombing expedition with other planes from his squadron First Lieutenant Warner engaged in a running fight over hostile territory with a superior number of enemy battle planes, from Friauville to Lamorville, France. During the combat he was severely wounded, his right thigh being badly shattered. In spite of his injuries he continued to operate his machine-guns until the hostile formation had been driven off and one plane shot down, burning.