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 Sergeant Edgar M. Halyburton, 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. Sergeant Halyburton, while a prisoner in the hands of the German Government from November 1917 to November 1918, voluntarily took command of the different camps in which he was located and under difficult conditions established administrative and personnel headquarters, organized the men into units, billeted them systematically, established sanitary regulations and made equitable distribution of supplies. He established an intelligence service to prevent our men giving information to the enemy and prevent the enemy from introducing propaganda. His patriotism and leadership under trying conditions were an inspiration to his fellow prisoners and contributed greatly to the amelioration of their hardships.