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 John A. Mendenhall, United States Army, is cited by the Commanding General, 1st Division, American Expeditionary Forces, for gallantry in action and a silver star may be placed upon the ribbon of the Victory Medals awarded him. Private First Class Mendenhall distinguished himself by gallantry in action while serving with Company B, 2d Field Battalion, Signal Corps, 1st Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in action 17 May 1918. Private First Class Mendenhall carried out with great gallantry the mission assigned to him, while charged with the repairing of the telephone lines in a dangerous area, and worked during the whole night under a very heavy bombardment by gas shells which caused serious casualties among the detachment to which he belonged.