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 First Lieutenant (Air Service) Bertram Williams, United States Army Air Service, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 96th Aero Squadron, U.S. Army Air Service, A.E.F., between Chambley and Xammes, France, 13 September 1918. As observer, Lieutenant Bertram accompanied Lieutenant Hopkins, pilot, on a flight of three planes which were attacked by 15 enemy planes. Despite the overwhelming number of the enemy by which they were surrounded, the American planes proceeded on their mission and bombed their objective. In the action which followed he and his pilot continued the unequal fight until they were shot down and killed. The heroic conduct displayed greatly inspired the members of the squadron and enabled one of the American planes to return to its airdrome with valuable information of the enemy.