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 Cecil W. Kennedy, United States Army, for distinguished service as a member of Troop B, 12th Cavalry Regiment, in passing through a zone infested with bandits and carrying a message to his troop commander after having had two horses shot from under him at Progresso, Texas, on 24 September 1915.