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 Lieutenant Colonel (Ordnance Corps) Austin J. Bruff, 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, in the reorganization and administration of the Property and Financial Departments at Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, which underwent an enormous expansion in the early stages of the war. Later, Lieutenant Colonel Bruff rendered unusual and highly meritorious services in developing in England the manufacture of various special and service types of small-arms ammunition, thereby securing for the American Expeditionary Forces a certain and readily available source of supply of this indispensable material.