Porter, Earl W. - Awarded Dist. Service Cross (1918)

PORTER, BLAKE

Posted By: S. Ferrall (email)
Date: 8/3/2004 at 03:32:15

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS
Earl W. Porter, second lieutenant, Air Service, observer, 7th Aviation Instruction Center. For extraordinary heroism in action near Lassigny, France, August 9, 1918. He, with First Lieut. Charles Raymond Blake, pilot, while on a reconnaissance expedition at a low altitude and beyond the enemy lines, was attacked by five German battle planes. Although wounded at the beginning of the combat, he shot down one of the enemy machines, and by cool and courageous operation of his gun, while his pilot skillfully manaeuvered the plane, fought off the others and made possible a safe return to friendly territory.

Residence at appointment: 1008 Poplar Street, Atlantic, Iowa

-source: Official Register, State of Iowa 1921-1922, Twenty-Ninth Number, Military Decorations of Iowans in the World War, pg. 369

-transcribed by Sharyl Ferrall