By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), First Lieutenant (Infantry) Thomas L. Cornell, United States Army, is cited for gallantry in action and a silver star may be placed upon the ribbon of the Victory Medals awarded him. First Lieutenant Cornell distinguished himself by gallantry in action while serving with the 26th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in action near Exermont, France, 5 October 1918. When the advance of his company was held up before a strong machine gun nest, Lieutenant Cornell, with utter disregard for his own safety, personally turned a captured machine gun on the position, and after firing a belt of ammunition led the charge which captured the position.