The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Lieutenant Colonel (Infantry) Harold N. Gilbert (ASN: 0-7596), United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious service in a duty of great responsibility. As officer in charge of all United States Army recruiting activities in the Office of the Adjutant General, Washington, D.C., in the years 1938, 1939, and 1940, Colonel Gilbert displayed unusual foresight, excellent judgment, and resourcefulness in planning, organizing, and conducting with conspicuous success the largest peacetime recruiting program in the history of the Army.