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 (Ordnance Corps) Bascom Little, 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 Chief of the Production District in which were manufactured practically all the machine guns and automatic rifles supplied for the United States Army and later as Special Assistant to the Chief of Ordnance, in charge of the production of small arms, automatic rifles, machine guns, small-arms ammunition, etc., Colonel Little successfully organized the industry of the country for the production of these items to meet the needs of the United States Army.