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 Lieutenant Colonel (Chemical Corps) Joel H. Hilderbrand, 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 Commandant of the Chemical Warfare Service Experimental Field (Hanlon Field), American Expeditionary Forces, a position of great responsibility and also of considerable personal danger, Lieutenant Colonel Hilderbrand’s profound knowledge of chemistry, coupled with his rapid grasp of military problems, enabled him to render services of the utmost value in determining the best means for using gas and gas materials in the field.