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 Major (Medical Corps) Karl Connell, 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 Chemical Warfare Service, practically alone and unaided and at a great personal risk to his life, Major Connell exposed himself unhesitatingly to the highest concentrations of deadly gasses while working with experimental models of masks. Major Connell invented, tested out, and perfected a new type of gas mask superior to any then in existence, thereby rendering service of inestimable value to the American Expeditionary Forces.