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 Captain Blanche S. Rulon, United States Army Nurse Corps, 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 Nurse of Base Hospital No. 27, at Angers, France, during the World War, and later as Assistant to the Director of the Nursing Services, American Expeditionary Forces, at Tours, France, Captain Rulon displayed qualities of leadership and organizing ability of the highest order. Through her skillful management and untiring energy she developed the nursing force at Base Hospital No. 27 to a high degree of proficiency and was of material assistance in establishing and maintaining a reputation for unusual efficiency for that hospital, which had the unique distinction of caring for the largest number of patients of any single hospital at any one time in the American Expeditionary Forces. Upon her return to the United States she had charge of the Claim Department of the Army Nurse Corps in the office of the Surgeon General, and the efficiency, sound judgment, and knowledge of the principles involved displayed by her in that capacity made a signal contribution to the demobilization work of the Government.