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 Captain (Infantry) Jesse Walton Wooldridge, 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. Near Mezy, France, on 15 July 1918, when attacked by portions of three enemy regiments, Captain Wooldridge, by exceptional skill and ability, so inspired his company of the 38th Infantry Regiment, 3d Division, that he defeated these units and drove them by successive counter attacks from the sectors of his regiment and that of an adjoining regiment. After his company had suffered a loss of 70 per cent by casualties, he organized a platoon from cooks, mess attendants, runners, and Stokes mortar men, and led it in attack upon the last enemy assault wave, which he defeated. During these successive encounters his company captured over 400 of the enemy and broke the strong enemy attempt to cross the Marne in this sector.