John H. Michener

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to John H. Michener, First Lieutenant (Air Service), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Varennes, France, October 4, 1918. First Lieutenant Michener was assigned the mission of locating the front lines of our troops at a time when dense mist and low clouds compelled him to fly at an altitude of only 100 meters. His observer’s signal rockets drew fire from, an advanced hostile machine-gun battery and Lieutenant Michener was wounded in the leg. Despite his wound, he continued the mission until the position of our troops was ascertained. He was then compelled to land on shell-torn ground behind the lines, the plane being completely wrecked.