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 Vaughn C. Avery (ASN: 555577), 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. Private Avery, Headquarters Troop, has performed the duties of a motorcycle dispatch rider with the Message Center, 3d Division, continuously since May 1918. He participated in all the operations of the 3d Division and has rendered exceptionally meritorious service in a duty of great responsibility. On the night of 14 – 15 July 1918, and during the day of 15 July on the Marne, Private Avery was continuously on duty for thirty-six hours delivering messages from Division to Brigade and Regimental headquarters and was constantly under shell fire. Four times Private Avery rode through a concentration of gas until finally severely gassed himself.