By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), Corporal John Joseph Bowden (ASN: 1709374), United States Army, is cited by the Commanding General, American Expeditionary Forces, for gallantry in action and a silver star may be placed upon the ribbon of the Victory Medals awarded him. Corporal Bowden distinguished himself by gallantry in action while serving with Company H, 12th Field Artillery Regiment, 2d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in action in the Argonne Forest, France, 3 – 9 October 1918. When his battalion was surrounded by the enemy, he three times went out under enemy fire in an attempt to signal a friendly aeroplane.