By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), Corporal Ernest E. LaBranche (ASN: 135282), United States Army, is cited 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. Corporal LaBranche distinguished himself by gallantry in action while serving with Battery E, 102d Field Artillery Regiment, 26th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in action in the Ravin de Bois des Caures, north of Verdun, 31 October 1918, in rescuing from under debris six members of his battery during a heavy enemy bombardment.