By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), Corporal Walter E. Backley (ASN: 1038456), United States Army, is cited by the Commanding General, 3d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, and a silver star may be placed upon the ribbon of the World War I Victory Medals awarded him. While serving with Battery C, 10th Field Artillery Regiment, 3d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, prior to the heavy bombardment of 15 July 1918, Corporal Backley volunteered to carry ammunition through a mile of woods and impassable road for a period of thirty-six hours without rest. Then he again carried to the guns, during the most intense shell fire, much needed ammunition. In his duty as a machine gunner he did excellent work and is officially credited with bringing down a German plane above the position on the Marne.