The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Fourth Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Fifth Award of the Distinguished Service Cross to First Lieutenant (Air Service) Douglas Campbell, United States Army Air Service, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 94th Aero Squadron, 1st Pursuit Group, U.S. Army Air Service, on 5 June 1918. Accompanied by another pilot, First Lieutenant Campbell attacked two enemy battle planes at an altitude of 5, 700 meters over Epley, France. After a spirited combat he was shot through the back by a machine-gun bullet, but in spite of his injury he kept on fighting until he had forced one of the enemy planes to the ground, where it was destroyed by artillery fire, and had driven the other plane back into its own territory.

War Department General Orders No. 121 (1918)