By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), Second Lieutenant John M. McClellan (MCSN: 0-2879), United States Marine Corps, 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. Second Lieutenant McClellan distinguished himself by gallantry in action while serving with the 5th Regiment (Marines), 2d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in action at Vierzy, France, 19 July 1918, in voluntarily finding a more sheltered position for his battalion.