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 (Coast Artillery Corps) Kenneth C. Masteller, 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 Negative Branch of the Military Intelligence Division of the General Staff, in building up and developing the counterespionage service in this country, the Plant Protection Service, the detection of fraud and graft, and the development of battalion systems.