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 (Signal Corps) William H. Fairbanks, 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. As Signal Officer, 5th Army Corps, from 25 August 1918 to 20 November 1918, which included active operations in the St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne offensives, Major Fairbanks displayed superior professional attainments, exceptional ability and devotion to duty in maintaining the communications of the 5th Army Corps under the most difficult conditions, thereby contributing materially to the successes of the operations of the 5th Army Corps, and rendering important service to the American Expeditionary Forces in the operations against the enemy.