By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), Lieutenant Colonel Leon L. Morton, 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. Lieutenant Colonel Morton distinguished himself by gallantry in action while serving with the 9th Infantry Regiment, 2d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in action near Clery-le-Petit, France, 4 November 1918, in personally locating and supervising the construction of foot pontoons across the Meuse River.