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 (Field Artillery John W. Kilbreth, 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 Director of the Department of Firing, School of Fire for Field Artillery, Fort Sill, Oklahoma, from September 1917 to May 1918, Lieutenant Colonel Kilbreth displayed professional attainments of the highest and most progressive order. He was primarily responsible for the excellent grounding received by thousands of officers in the principles of artillery firing, including those applicable to open warfare.