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 in lieu of the Certificate of Merit previously issued to Private Willie R. Jones, United States Army, for saving a comrade from drowning at the risk of his own life at Vera Cruz, Mexico, on 1 September 1914, while serving as a member of Battery A, 4th Field Artillery Regiment.