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 (Medical Corps) Joseph H. Ford, 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 Ford organized and commanded a Hospital Center of 15,000 beds at Allery, France. Due to his great force and ability, a hospital group was prepared for the care of the sick and wounded during the St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne offensives, when the need of hospital beds was critical. This adequate and efficient hospitalization contributed materially to the conservation of man power and to the subsequent success of our force.