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) Edward Seery Hayes, United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility during World War I. As Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3, 78th Division, in the St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne offensives, Lieutenant Colonel Hayes was an important factor in the success of the Division and rendered exceptional services by the persistence and courage of his front line reconnaissances; by his originality and the soundness of his plans of relief and attack, and by the clearness and correctness of all orders written by him for the operations of the Division. His work was creative and constructive to a high degree and rendered in a highly meritorious manner in a position of great responsibility.