Headquarters, European Theater of Operations, U.S. Army, General Orders No. 2 (January 10, 1944)
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 Captain (Air Corps) Joseph Longwell Myers (ASN: 0-659166), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-38 Fighter Airplane in the 38th Fighter Squadron, 55th Fighter Group, EIGHTH Air Force, in action over Germany on 13 November 1943, while serving as flight leader of a fighter group providing close escort for heavy bombers. During continuous enemy fighter attacks the fighter formation was broken up and many planes damaged. Captain Myers assumed the responsibility for the safe return of two crippled fighters and one crippled bomber. He repeatedly drove off attacks by numerically superior enemy fighters and succeeded in escorting all three planes to safety. The acts of heroism performed by Captain Myers on this occasion have reflected the greatest credit upon himself and the armed forces of the United States.