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) Joel E. Goldthwait, 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 a member of the Medical Corps, Colonel Goldthwait has, by his unusual foresight and organizing ability, made it possible to reclaim for duty thousands of men suffering from physical defects. He has thereby materially conserved for combat service a great number of men who would have been lost to the service.