By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), Private First Class Lewis W. Herndon, United States Army, is cited (Posthumously) 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 Company D, 6th Engineer Regiment, 3d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, Private Herndon displayed exceptional heroism at Warfusse-Abancourt, Somme, France, 30 March 1918. When a detachment of his company was in great peril, Private Herndon voluntarily attempted to cross a road covered by enemy machine gun fire and under direct observation. In this heroic attempt, he was killed by enemy machine gun fire.