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) Lawrence Theodore Wyly, United States Army Air Service, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 148th Aero Squadron, 4th Pursuit Group, U.S. Army Air Service, A.E.F., near Chaulnes, France, 15 August 1918. Acting as flight leader of five airplanes Lieutenant Wyly observed 15 or 20 enemy planes attacking a small number of allied planes. Lieutenant Wyly rushed to the assistance of the allied airmen and repeatedly attacked superior numbers of enemy planes. His machine was riddled by enemy fire and his gas tank perforated. Despite this fact, he continued to fight until his plane was shot down close behind our lines, but before landing had succeeded in scattering and driving off the enemy planes. On 17 September northwest of Cambrai, he boldly attacked five enemy planes, shooting down one of the enemy. On October 21 he volunteered to attack the enemy airdrome near Famors, outside of Valenciennes, many miles behind the enemy lines, despite the fog and mist on that day. In company with another pilot of the squadron he reached his destination to find the airdrome had the night before been evacuated. They continued on to Valenciennes, discovered an enemy transport column two miles in length. In spite of enemy machine-gun fire and almost impossible flying conditions, the column was attacked and great damage inflicted upon it. His machine badly crippled, he returned to his airdrome with extremely valuable information.