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 A. Murphy, 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. Sergeant Murphy distinguished himself by gallantry in action while serving with Company B, 26th Infantry, 1st Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in action during World War I. With his patrol leader, Sergeant Murphy cut and crawled through twelve strands of wire in front of an enemy listening post and, with coolness and nerve, killed one of the sentinels who had fired at the patrol leader.