By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), Sergeant First Class Helmer Bloom (ASN: 2032395), United States Army, is cited (Posthumously) by the Commanding General, American Expeditionary Forces, for gallantry in action and a silver star may be placed upon the ribbon of the Victory Medals awarded him. Sergeant First Class Bloom distinguished himself by gallantry in action while serving with Company A, 310th Engineer Regiment, 85th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in action at Selisoe, Russia, 8 October 1918, in voluntarily attempting to seim the River Dvina under enemy fire.