John W. Cousins

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to John W. Cousins, First Lieutenant (Air Service), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Conflans, France, November 2, 1918. In the course of a photographic mission of a particularly dangerous character Lieutenant Cousins and his pilot were attacked by a superior number of enemy pursuit planes. During the combat that ensued, with remarkable coolness and excellent shooting, he destroyed one of the attacking machines. Notwithstanding that the enemy aircraft continued to attack and harass them, Lieutenant Cousins and pilot reached all their objectives and returned to our lines with photographs of great military importance.