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 (Medical Corps) Burton J. Lee, 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 Surgical Consultant attached to the 2d Division, Lieutenant Colonel Lee served continuously at the front, organizing his forces for the treatment and evacuation of the casualties with skill and marked success. He displayed unusual ability in the operations before Soissons, when in an emergency he organized, personally led, and directed surgical teams which cared for hundreds of wounded soldiers at a time when adequate hospitalization could not be established.