Etienne Houroux

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Etienne Houroux, Sergeant, French Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Dun-sur-Meuse, France, October 30, 1918. While engaged in a visual reconnaissance Sergeant Houroux accepted combat with four enemy planes, who attacked him with the object of forcing him to abandon his mission. Although he was himself seriously wounded, he sustained the unequal fight until his observer was killed by the fire of the attacking aircraft. When no further defense was left to him, he made a successful retreat into the allied lines and landed safely. Suffering severely from his wound and too weak to leave the pilot’s seat without assistance, he insisted that his observer be cared for before permitting anyone to aid him.