Walter Rolls Lawson

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Walter Rolls Lawson, Captain (Air Service), U.S. Army, for repeated acts of extraordinary heroism in action near St. Mihiel, France, July 30 and September 13, 1918. Captain Lawson showed rare courage on a reconnaissance far over the enemy lines when he continued on his mission after being seriously wounded by antiaircraft fire. On September 13, although he was still convalescing from his wound, he volunteered for a particularly dangerous mission requiring a flight of 75 kilometers within the enemy lines. Because of weather conditions he was forced to fly at a dangerously low altitude and was repeatedly fired on by antiaircraft and machine guns. He successfully accomplished his mission and returned with important information.