By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), Sergeant James Fitzgerald (ASN: 552557), 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 Company M, 38th Infantry Regiment, 3d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, as a member of a reconnoitering patrol on 19 July 1918, his patrol being suddenly fired on by machine guns from a German strong point occupied by his platoon and one member of the patrol being killed, Sergeant Fitzgerald was the only member of the patrol to remain until his mission had been accomplished, after which he killed two Germans. [A Distinguished Service Cross was awarded for this action.]