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 (Corps of Engineers) Francis Fielding Longley, 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. Colonel Longley has been in charge of the Water Supply Service, and as Commanding Officer of the 26th Engineers, a water supply regiment, since the fall of 1917. His untiring energy, unusual initiative, and good judgment have to a marked degree, been responsible for the plentiful supply of pure drinking water to the combatant troops, thereby materially assisting in maintaining the unusually low rates in sickness among our troops.