The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant (Air Service) Russell Luff Meredith, U.S. Army Air Service, for heroism while participating in an aerial flight, as a member of the 1st Pursuit Group, on 7 February 1923. Lieutenant Meredith, upon learning that an injured man was lying at the point of death on Beave Island in Lake Michigan, voluntarily made a hazardous flight from Selfridge Field, Michigan, for the purpose of taking medical aid to the patient, no other means of transportation being possible owing to the frozen condition of the lake. Extremely dangerous flying conditions were encountered, blinding snow and mist destroying the visibility, thus making it necessary to land along the shore in order to determine the location of the Island. In doing so it was discovered that the compass had an error and the supply of gasoline was limited. However, due to the urgency of the mission, Lieutenant Meredith continued the flight, thus enabling a doctor to reach the patient in time to be of service.