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 Jesse J. Paschal, United States Army, for voluntarily imperiling his own life in the rescue of fellow soldiers at Fort Screven, Georgia, on 4 July 1906, while serving as a member of the 14th Company, Coast Artillery Corps.