Frank Kerr Hays

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Frank Kerr Hays, Second Lieutenant (Air Service), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action in the region of Chambley, France, September 13, 1918. Lieutenant Hays was one of an offensive patrol of five planes, attacked by seven enemy scouts (Fokker type), that dived down on them from the clouds, catching the American patrol in a disadvantageous position. In the course of the combat which followed, both of Lieutenant Hays’ machine guns jammed. By an extraordinary effort he cleared his guns and drove off the adversary. He then observed his flight commander in a dangerous situation with two enemy planes behind him. He attacked and destroyed one and forced the other to withdraw.