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 Colonel (Infantry) Robert McCandless Beck, Jr., 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. Colonel Beck showed extraordinary efficiency in directing the staff work of the 32d Division at the Second Battle of the Marne and in the operations near Soissons and north of Verdun, France, from July to October 1918. In the preparations for battle and in the reorganizations between battles, he ably handled the many difficult situations that presented themselves.