By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), Sergeant Jesse W. Pratt (ASN: 541923), 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 G, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, on the night of 11 October 1918, near Cierges, France, in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, Sergeant Pratt led his platoon, then reduced by casualties to three squads, in an attack capturing his objective and in spite of a most intense artillery and machine gun barrage succeeded in capturing a machine gun nest which was enfilading his flank, killing one officer and all the men who manned the position. Later when all the officers of his company and the battalion had been killed or disabled, he assumed command of the battalion and by his daring leadership pushed forward the attack and successfully consolidated the newly gained position which he held against repeated counter attacks of the enemy. [A Distinguished Service Cross was awarded for this action.]