The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Colonel (Field Artillery) Earle D’Arcy Pearce, United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility during World War I. As Commanding Officer of the 319th Field Artillery, 82d Division, in the organization and training of the regiment and in its very successful operations against the enemy in the Aisne-Marne, St. Mihiel, and Meuse-Argonne offensives, Colonel Pearce displayed tireless energy, keen devotion to duty, and eminent technical skill as an artillerist, giving most effective support to the Infantry of the 82d and 80th Divisions, and very materially contributing to the successes attained by those units.