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 Sergeant Charles E. Smith, United States Army, for the manner in which he handled his detachment of 8 men of Troop A, 14th Cavalry Regiment, while surrounded by and under fire of almost 100 Mexican bandits at Glen Springs, Texas, on 5 May 1916.