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 (Signal Corps) Parker Hitt, 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. By his sound judgment and untiring efforts Colonel Hitt assisted in perfecting the satisfactory organization of the Signal Corps of the American Expeditionary Forces, and he displayed conspicuous merit in this capacity as Signal Officer of the 1st American Army.